Brow Lawmaker Wants Playground Smoking Ban
BY BUDDY NEVINS
If state Rep. Katie Edwards has her way, you may have to put out that stoogie in the playground.
The Plantation Democrat has filed legislation (HB 308) that would allow cities and counties to prohibit smoking on certain playgrounds. The bill would also allow School Boards to restrict smoking on School Board property.
“Protecting the health and welfare of our children is my primary concern,” said Rep. Edwards. “The public places where our children play should be free from the cigarettes and secondhand smoke.”
Only playgrounds “designed solely for children” and containing “one or more playground structures” would be affected.
Edwards said she has the support of the Florida League of Cities.
In a bipartisan touch, Edwards companion sponsor in the Senate (SB 342) is Rob Bradley, a Republican from Orange Park just south of Jacksonville.
November 20th, 2013 at 7:46 pm
Just another grandstanding politician who has not fought a single important battle, other than fluff legislation to try to get re-elected! When I opposed this on facebook and told her to read the Town of Davie ordinance that provides designated smoking areas, she promptly de-friended me.A cowardly response from an another do nothing elected official. Do your homework Edwards, second hand smoke at a park outdoors, what nonsense or is it no sense?
November 20th, 2013 at 11:23 pm
Katie has a habit of blocking those who disagree with her on Facebook. Thin-skinned is no way to serve in public office.
Here is a better idea, ban smoking on all public beaches since most folks think the beach is a large ashtray, and butts actually cause environmental damage to wildlife. Oh yeah environmental issues aren’t really her thing are they.
November 21st, 2013 at 8:19 am
This is a common sense idea — I would support a smoking ban on the beach, as well.
November 21st, 2013 at 9:07 am
It is a common sense idea, but is it an issue? No. Take up something important Katie. Seriously.
November 21st, 2013 at 11:04 am
Not reading the bill, I wonder about the provision to “allow School Boards to restrict smoking on School Board property.” The reason is that they already have it.
I know that because our city tried to pass legislation to do this, only to find out we couldn’t under Florida law, though on School property which is used and maintained by the City, we could if the School Board prohibited. Not because we prohibited.
There must be something new that isn’t being fully explained here.
FROM BUDDY:
There is a link to the bill within the story.
November 21st, 2013 at 3:43 pm
Kudos to Katie. The dangers of second hand smoke are a matter of scientific fact: http://www.epa .gov/smokefree/pubs/strsfs.html. I fail to see a rationale argument against this public health legislation other than one who simply sits on the other side of the aisle and is miffed that someone else thought of this first, or perhaps the same group that believes global warming is a fiction. Fortunately, these misinformed folks are being marginalized by a far more intelligent electorate.
November 21st, 2013 at 4:32 pm
I was right Buddy. The bill doesn’t add the School Board’s ability to restrict smoking on their property since they have it. The new bill only does a grammar modification.
The law right now reads, “School districts may further restrict
smoking by persons on school district property.”
It will change it to read, “A school district may further restrict smoking by persons on school district property.”
Basically the same. The big proposal applying it to cities and counties.
November 21st, 2013 at 7:22 pm
It’s about time, I love Rep. Katie Edwards!
November 21st, 2013 at 11:03 pm
Palm Beach Rep Bill Hager passed the bill to ban smoking on school property on 2011. Last year he tried to give cities and counties the option to ban smoking in public areas such as beaches, parks and playgrounds. This is a stripped down version of this bill that puts forth a common sense solution to protecting the health of our children while they are at play, just like the school property ban did. I hope Rep Edwards has success with this.
November 26th, 2013 at 8:01 pm
Katie Edwards is the biggest Loser, in the House, the living proof would be her biggest supporter,Susanna Bott. Louis, where are you, this brainless bimbo, needs to be taken down now
December 3rd, 2013 at 10:01 am
If she get’s her way, maybe she will allow dope smoking in the parks…