Weigh in on UCLA’s Draft Tobacco-Free Policy

A draft of UCLA’s tobacco-free policy, which goes into effect April 22, 2013, is now available online for Bruins to review. Students, staff and faculty are invited to submit comments to the Tobacco-Free Steering Committee at tobaccofree@ucla.edu from Nov. 15 to Jan. 15.

The policy will prohibit cigarettes, pipes, cigars, chewing tobacco and all other forms of tobacco, as well as e-cigarettes, as required by a UC plan requiring all 10 campuses to go tobacco-free. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, and UCLA is proud to join the hundreds of universities already making tobacco-free the new normal.

For more about UCLA’s plans to go tobacco-free, or to get help quitting, see the Oct. 30 announcement, “No smoking allowed: UCLA to go tobacco-free in April,” or visit the Tobacco-Free Campus Task Force’s resource website at breathewell.healthy.ucla.edu.

UCLA Draft Policy: Tobacco-Free Environment

Issuing Officer: Director, Environment, Health & Safety

Responsible Dept: Environment, Health & Safety

Effective Date: April 22, 2013 Supersedes: UCLA Policy 810, dated September 21, 2009

I. REFERENCES

1. President’s letter to Chancellors, et al., dated December 3, 2003;

2. California Government Code, Division 7, Chapter 32; and § 7596-7598;

3. University of California Policy on Sustainable Practices, March 22, 2007.

4. President’s letter to Chancellors, et al., dated January 9, 2012

II. BACKGROUND

Medical information has mounted regarding the impact and hazards of secondary smoke on nonsmokers.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified environmental tobacco smoke as a carcinogen in January, 1993, and the Surgeon General has determined that tobacco smoking use is the leading preventable cause of illness and premature death in the United States. State law went into effect on January 1, 1994, requiring that state buildings and state vehicles provide and maintain a smoke-free environment. In September, 2003, legislation was signed by the Governor which modified and added to the Government Code (see Reference 2, above) and which, as of January 1, 2004, extended the no-smoking zone to twenty feet away from main entrances and exits and operable windows of public buildings. The scope of the law included the University of California and therefore, the UCLA smoke-free environment policy was amended accordingly.

As of 2009, The UC Policy on Sustainable Practices required that all new construction projects and significant renovations over 5 million dollars be certified under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) system. The US Green Building Council standards for all LEED projects required no smoking within 25 feet of the building. Certification of new buildings and significant renovations over 5 million dollars are subject to the fulfillment of this prerequisite. In order to meet the requirement of the UC Policy on Sustainable Practices, UCLA and other UC campuses changed their respective campus-wide smoking policies in order to align with the LEED green building certification system. UCLA Health System and UCLA Health Sciences went smoke-free in November of 2011.

In January, 2012, UC President Yudof mandated that the UC Chancellors create a smoke-free environment on all UC campuses within 24 months. Smoke-free was defined by President Yudof as meaning that smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e.g., “e-cigarettes”) are strictly prohibited in indoor and outdoor spaces, including parking lots, private residential space, and the Medical Center campuses. This policy applies to all UC facilities, whether owned or wholly leased. Sale and advertising of tobacco products are also prohibited in University owned and occupied buildings.

III. STATEMENT

Tobacco use is not permitted anywhere on any UCLA owned or leased property. Department heads are responsible for ensuring that faculty, staff, students, and visitors are informed of and comply with this policy. Questions should be directed to the UCLA Tobacco Free Steering Committee at tobaccofree@ucla.edu.

A. Tobacco use is permitted for the following exceptions:

1. Tobacco use for university approved ceremonial purposes is allowed in a space designated for the ceremony.

2. UCLA IRB approved medical research only if tobacco use is integral to the research protocol.

B. Compliance:

Compliance is grounded in informing and educating violators about this policy. Repeated violations of this policy are subject to corrective action under the Student Code of Conduct, Human Resources Policies and Procedures, other applicable University Regulations or Policies, and citation and fines per California Government Code section 7597.1.  Visitors are expected to comply with University policy.