Albany, NY – New York State Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) and State Senator Gustavo Rivera (D, WF-Bronx) have introduced a bill today expanding legislation they passed in 2012 banning smoking within 100 feet of any school entrances or exits to include public libraries.

The new bill seeks to expand the protections to the public health law created by chapter 449 of the laws of 2012 which prohibited smoking within 100 feet of any entrance or exit of public or private elementary, or secondary schools. This bill would expand these protections by placing the same ban on all private and public libraries – protecting library patrons from the dangers of secondhand smoke.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, secondhand smoke exposure causes acute lower respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia in young children, who visit and benefit greatly from libraries. Along with respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and breathlessness among school-aged children and young adults, even brief secondhand smoke exposure can damage cells in ways that set the cancer process in motion. This legislation will add to the growing number of places young children, seniors, and all New Yorkers can enjoy without being exposed to second hand smoke.

“Several years ago New York State successfully banned smoking indoors to protect all New Yorkers from the harmful side effects of secondhand smoke, and four years ago Senator Rivera and I expanded that ban to the entrances and exits of our schools, said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “Today, I am proud to extend that smoke-free protection even further to include the entrances and exits of our state’s libraries. New Yorkers have the right to go to their local public library without being exposed to secondhand smoke – which despite being secondhand, is still known have detrimental medical side effects to those exposed. This bill is especially important when you consider the number of school age children and seniors who patronize public libraries – they deserve a smoke free and healthy environment to enjoy our state’s great library systems, and I am thrilled to work with my colleague Senator Rivera again to make New York a healthier place.”

“Extending smoke free areas to our state libraries is a common sense proposal that will protect our community from the unquestionable dangers of second hand smoking. It will also positively enhance the learning experience for the thousands of children, youths, adults and seniors that visit our libraries each year", said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “I am fully committed to working with Assemblymember Dinowitz to ensure we pass this piece of legislation in the Senate and Assembly, which will help safeguard our communities’ public health.”

"The New York Public Library thanks Assemblyman Dinowitz and Senator Rivera for their strong support of libraries, and for extending legislation that will keep our branches cleaner and our visitors safer and healthier," said George Mihaltses, the New York Public Library's Vice President of Government and Community Affairs.

“Tobacco remains the #1 cause of preventable death for New Yorkers, and secondhand smoke can be just as dangerous,” said Guillermo Flores, Jr. of NYC Smoke-Free. “Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke can cause adverse health effects in both adults and children. There is no safe level. Curbing exposure to secondhand smoke in outdoor areas is a measure of comprehensive tobacco control which prevents kids from starting to smoke and helps adult smokers quit.”