Legislation aims to ban smoking in state parks, cars carrying kids

Publication Date: 2006-12-04

• Author:James P. Sweeney
• Publication:San Diego (CA) Union-Tribune

Calling out Big Tobacco for what could be a long, difficult political fight, a state senator plans to introduce legislation today that would outlaw smoking at all of California's state parks and beaches as well as in cars carrying children.

Lawmakers have debated and rejected similar proposals in recent years, but the votes have been close. Moreover, of the 40 senators and 80 Assembly members who will be sworn in today for a new, two-year session, 48 are new.

“We're going to work hard to address the concerns that have been present in the past,” said Sen. Jenny Oropeza, a Democrat from Carson who will carry the proposals in two bills. “The evidence is so strong about (the dangers of) secondhand smoke.”