On Thursday, February 19, the General Assembly passed a smoke-free restaurant bill. Your American Cancer Society, with your help, has fought for strong, comprehensive smoke-free polices for years.  We do not believe that this legislation goes far enough to protect the health of all restaurant workers and patrons in Virginia. The loopholes within the bill allow for ventilation which both the Surgeon General and the Trade Association have said will not keep workers and patrons protected from secondhand smoke.  In addition, the penalties in the bill are so low that we fear many will not take this law seriously.  We have listed below what the bill does and does not do. 

The final version of the bill, which Governor Kaine has said he will sign, includes the following provisions:

1. Smoking will be prohibited in all public restaurants unless the restaurant has a separate room that has BOTH a door and a separate ventilation system designated as the smoking area.  

2. Smoking is permitted in a private club.

3. Smoking on outdoor patios is permitted unless the retractable flaps of the enclosure are closed.

4. Workers at restaurants with smoking areas cannot be compelled to work in the smoking area.

5. The bill goes into effect on December 1, 2009.

Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program

Virginia Department of Health:  Every Woman's Life Program

The House of Delegates and the State Senate have both passed legislation that creates a trust fund to allow for private contributions to be made towards the EWL program.  Also included in this legislation is the creation of a "tax check off" box on the VA State Tax Form.  This allows for additional revenue to be generated by individual citizens.

HB2200 Delegate Margaret Vanderhye—passed by the House of Delegates on February 5.

SB1144 Senator Mary Margaret Whipple—passed by Senate on January 26.

 Youth Tobacco Prevention Funding

Funding for Youth Tobacco Use Prevention Programs Restored

Last week, the Senate Finance Committee proposed a 60% cut in funding for the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation (VTSF), a foundation that has made great strides to reduce youth smoking rates. You took action and your voices were heard! The Senate Finance Committee has announced that it will restore this budget cut with funds provided by the Federal economic stimulus package. Thank you for helping VTSF continue to make great strides toward reducing youth smoking rates.

Expansion of VTSF Mission

The State Senate has passed legislation that expands the purpose of the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation to one that includes addressing childhood obesity issues in addition to youth tobacco use prevention. Similar legislation has been passed by the House General Laws Committee and will be considered by the House of Delegates. 

 HB2456 Delegate John O’Bannon—Passed by the House General Laws Committee on February 5.

SB1112 Senator Ralph Northam—passed by Senate on January 27.

Tobacco Tax

The proposal to increase the state tobacco tax has failed at the committee level in both the House of Delegates and the Senate. This is unfortunate since an increase of 90 cents to the current tax would result in a 17.4% decrease in youth smokers and also bring Virginia's tobacco tax up to the national average.

HB2379 Delegate David Englin—Passed by indefinitely by a House Finance Subcommittee on January 28th.  

Ambassador Constituent Teams

The following Virginians represent their Congressional District for your American Cancer Society:

District 1- Carol Pesti, Yorktown, VA         

District 2- Donna Rennick, Virginia Beach, VA 

District 3- Carol Seas, Hampton, VA                    

District 4- Arlene Zeiler, Suffolk, VA

District 5- O.H. Bobbitt, Gladys, VA                          

District 6- This could be you! (Roanoke)

District 7- Vivian Sullivan, Montpelier, VA           

District 8- This could be you! (Northern Virginia)

District  9- Terri Neel Kinder, Marion, VA          

District 10- Lois Sutphin, Warrenton, VA

District 11- Donna Kaufman, Manassas VA

State Lead Ambassador, Donna Adkins, Poquoson VA

Your Help is Needed to Move Our Legislative Agenda Forward!

Become an active member of your local Advocacy Constituent Team. There are eleven teams in Virginia which are being created to provide volunteers with the opportunity to become more involved in advocacy with the American Cancer Society. Please contact Ann Vaughan at ann.vaughan@cancer.org or 804-527-3714 for information regarding your local team.

Your Virginia Government Relations Team

Keenan A. Caldwell- State Director - keenan.caldwell@cancer.org
Ann B. Vaughan- Grassroots Manager -ann.vaughan@cancer.org
Katie Pepe Donnini- Grassroots Manager -katie.donnini@cancer.org