2008 Woodie Awards
Smoking laws in question on SCC campus
Thomas Coletto
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: News
No-smoking signs near buildings are not new to the Arizona environment, but SCC has some signs that are different from the state-mandated signs.
Many signs also contain more wording: " THANK YOU FOR NOT SMOKING. To report a violation or file a complaint www.smokefreearizona.org, 1-877-429-6676 ARS 36-601.01" This is referring to the Arizona state smoking ban, Smoke-Free Arizona Act in November of 2006. This law came into effect in May of 2007.
The "smokefreearizona.org" stickers used around campus are not the official stickers supplied free of charge to businesses and institutions.
Carl Couch, vice president of Administrative Services, says, "The stickers we used initially were purchased by the college based on our understanding of the requirements of the law at the time. We've since learned that there are stickers available through the state at no additional cost to us."
These makeshift stickers cost $3,606. These funds came from the General College Fund, which is paid for by the Maricopa County taxpayers through property taxes, state aid, tuition and interest income Couch says.
On the main page of www.smokefreearizona.org, bullet number 6 states, "Tribes are Sovereign Nations. The Smoke-Free Arizona Act has no application on Indian reservations as defined in A.R.S. §42-3301."
Couch says, "Our MCCD policies already banned smoking inside or near the entrances to buildings. Whether the law applies to us or not is something I'll let the lawyers debate."
Scottsdale Community is built upon Salt River Indian Reservation land. Couch states, "The Smoke Free Arizona Act is a part of Arizona state law and while there is some basis in the actual wording of the act (on) whether it applies to operations on tribal lands, we've received guidance from several quarters that cause me to believe that regardless of the legal standing of the act, that SCC should comply with the spirit of the act. "
The MCCD Governing Board had a no-smoking regulation before the law passed in 2006.
Many signs also contain more wording: " THANK YOU FOR NOT SMOKING. To report a violation or file a complaint www.smokefreearizona.org, 1-877-429-6676 ARS 36-601.01" This is referring to the Arizona state smoking ban, Smoke-Free Arizona Act in November of 2006. This law came into effect in May of 2007.
The "smokefreearizona.org" stickers used around campus are not the official stickers supplied free of charge to businesses and institutions.
Carl Couch, vice president of Administrative Services, says, "The stickers we used initially were purchased by the college based on our understanding of the requirements of the law at the time. We've since learned that there are stickers available through the state at no additional cost to us."
These makeshift stickers cost $3,606. These funds came from the General College Fund, which is paid for by the Maricopa County taxpayers through property taxes, state aid, tuition and interest income Couch says.
On the main page of www.smokefreearizona.org, bullet number 6 states, "Tribes are Sovereign Nations. The Smoke-Free Arizona Act has no application on Indian reservations as defined in A.R.S. §42-3301."
Couch says, "Our MCCD policies already banned smoking inside or near the entrances to buildings. Whether the law applies to us or not is something I'll let the lawyers debate."
Scottsdale Community is built upon Salt River Indian Reservation land. Couch states, "The Smoke Free Arizona Act is a part of Arizona state law and while there is some basis in the actual wording of the act (on) whether it applies to operations on tribal lands, we've received guidance from several quarters that cause me to believe that regardless of the legal standing of the act, that SCC should comply with the spirit of the act. "
The MCCD Governing Board had a no-smoking regulation before the law passed in 2006.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
John
posted 5/05/08 @ 11:17 AM MST
Wow... I am surprised that they spent the money when the stickers are free. And it does not look like they can even follow their own regulations.
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