A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROTECT COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS AND STAFF, AS WELL AS VISITING PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, FROM EXPOSURE TO TOBACCO BY authorizing LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARDS OF TRUSTEES TO ADOPT WRITTEN POLICIES PROHIBITING THE USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN BUILDINGS, IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FACILITIES, ON COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUSES, OR AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE‑RELATED OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE‑SPONSORED EVENTS, AND IN OR ON OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROPERTY, as recommended by the justus‑warren heart disease and stroke prevention task force.
Whereas, young adults, ages 18‑24, currently have the highest smoking prevalence in North Carolina; and
Whereas, in 2007, the General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 1086, an act requiring local boards of education to adopt, implement, and enforce written policies prohibiting at all times the use of any tobacco product by any person in school buildings; and
Whereas, evidence shows that students attending a North Carolina high school that had established 100% tobacco‑free school policy were 32% less likely to be tobacco users and 40% less likely to be smokers compared to non‑tobacco‑free school districts; and
Whereas, many North Carolina high school students attend classes or other educational events at community colleges; and
Whereas, North Carolina's public high school students should be protected from exposure to tobacco on community college campuses and in classrooms as well as in public school buildings and campuses; Now, therefore, 
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.    Article 2 of Chapter 115D of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new section to read:
"§ 115D‑25.4. Prohibition of tobacco use in community college buildings, grounds, and at community college-sponsored events.
(a)	As used in this section:
(1)	"Tobacco product" includes cigarettes, cigars, blunts, bidis, pipes, chewing tobacco, snus, snuff, and any other items containing or reasonably resembling tobacco or tobacco products. 
(2)	"Tobacco use" includes smoking, chewing, dipping, or any other use of tobacco products.
(b)	Local community college boards may adopt, implement, and enforce a written policy prohibiting at all times the use of any tobacco product by any person in community college buildings, in community college facilities, on community college campuses, and in or on any other community college property owned, leased, or operated by the local community college. The policy may also prohibit the use of all tobacco products by persons attending a community college‑sponsored event at a location not listed in this section when in the presence of students or school personnel or in an area where smoking is otherwise prohibited by law.
(c)	The policy adopted by a local community college board of trustees may include the following elements:
(1)	Adequate notice of the policy to students, parents, the public, and school personnel.
(2)	Posting of signs prohibiting at all times the use of tobacco products by any person in and on community college property.
(3)	Requirements that community college personnel enforce the policy.
(4)	Permission for tobacco products to be included in instructional or research activities in community college buildings if the activity is conducted or supervised by the faculty member overseeing the instruction or research and the activity does not include smoking, chewing, or otherwise ingesting the tobacco product.
(e)	Nothing in this section, G.S. 143‑595 through G.S. 143‑601, or any other section prohibits a local community college board of trustees from adopting and enforcing a more restrictive policy on the use of tobacco in community college buildings, in community college facilities, on community college campuses, or at community college‑related or community college‑sponsored events, and in or on other community college property."
SECTION 2.  The North Carolina Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch and the Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission shall work with local community college boards of trustees to provide assistance with the development and implementation of the policy including providing information regarding smoking cessation and prevention resources.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.