POLITICAL
joanne levin
Call your State Rep.to say you STRONGLY OPPOSE H.5271
Call your State Senator to say you STRONGLY OPPOSE S.2999
WHY WE OPPOSE:
These bills would preempt and limit local boards of health the ability to create and adopt policies based on what they know is best for their communities. Preemption is a strategy used by the tobacco companies to prevent meaningful local laws on tobacco control issues that protect and save lives. The work of local boards of health is to protect and improve health based on science. Traditionally, the strongest and most innovative tobacco control policies have emerged at the local level.
This legislation would establish State laws that impose “age-gates” on gambling, cannabis, alcohol AND tobacco, prohibiting any change to take place at the local level, as such changes would pre-empt state law. This effectively strips local boards of health of their authority. If passed, it would also repeal the Nicotine Free Generation (NFG) in each of the 23 municipalities that have already adopted it.
DONT LET BIG TOBACCO WIN!
MESSAGE:
In Massachusetts, local communities have been proactive in advocating for and adopting evidence-based tobaccocontrol policies that prevent young people from becoming addicted to tobacco products. Local boards of health havebeen successful in preventing youth access and exposure to tobacco products through policies including;
· Preventing tobacco sales near schools
· Reducing access to cheap cigars
· Removing the sale of tobacco products from pharmacies
· T21-the law that prohibits the sale of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 21 This legislation passed in Massachusetts before it was enacted nationally.
· Banning flavored tobacco/nicotine products
· Massachusetts smoke-free workplace law
These efforts have been instrumental in reducing youth tobacco initiation and use in the Commonwealth and are a model for the nation.
A recent tobacco control policy in Massachusetts is Nicotine Free Generation (NFG). A total of 22 communities has successfully adopted NFG. It is crucial for our children’s well-being to uphold the authority of our local boards of healthand to secure this policy that has already been passed through the efforts of many community members.
Massachusetts has made tremendous public health gains in reducing tobacco and nicotine use, and these bills would be a significant step backwards. I ask that you remain firm on your commitment to protecting young people from the harmful effects of addictive tobacco products.
WHERE THIS STANDS:
1. H.5271 was voted out of committee favorably by the Consumer Protection and Professional LicensureCommittee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling.
2. H.5271 is likely to be attached to the much larger Economic Development Bill, which will pass soon! By June if not sooner.
3. The Economic Development bill is expected to pass; we must prevent H.5271 from being included in the bill or ask to have it removed.
4. S.2999 was voted out of committee favorably by the Consumer Protection and Professional LicensingCommittee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means.
TAKE ACTION:
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Ask your representatives to contact the Office of Speaker of the House, Ronald Mariano, to say theyOPPOSE, H.5271! Email: Ronald.Mariano@mahouse.gov – Phone: (617) 722-2500
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Ask your Senator to contact the office of President, Karen Spilka, to say they SO.P2P99O9S! Email: Karen....@masenate.gov – Phone: (617) 722-1500· If you live in one of the 22 communities that have passed NFG, be sure to tell your representatives andSenators that you don’t want NFG repealed in your community!
Find your legislator, by your street address: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
The 22 communities that would have NFG taken away if these bills passed:
1. Brookline 12. Newton
2. Concord 13. Manchester-by-the-Sea
3. Malden 14. Conway
4. Melrose 15. Pelham
5. Reading 16. Hopkinton
6. Stoneham 17. Somerville
7. Wakefield 18. Dover
8. Winchester 19. South Hadley
9. Belchertown 20. Leverett
10. Chelsea 21. Amherst
11. Needham 22. Hardwick
23.NORTHAMPTON
THE SALIENT LANGUAGE OF THE BILL:
(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, including the Home Rule Amendment, any statute enacted by the General Court that establishes a minimum age for the purchase of a product or service, or for participation in an activity, shall supersede and preempt any rule, regulation, ordinance, or by-law of a local authoritythat implements a generational ban or birth-date-based restriction that prohibits the sale of products or services topersons based on a specific birth year or date.