BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 768
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 27, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
768 (Thurmond) - As Amended May 5, 2015
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|Policy |Arts, Entertainment, Sports, |Vote:|4 - 2 |
|Committee: |Tourism, and Internet Media | | |
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| |Governmental Organization | |15 - 5 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill prohibits the use or possession of smokeless tobacco
products on the playing field of a baseball stadium (including
the dugout, bullpen, and team bench area) during a professional
baseball game or practice.
FISCAL EFFECT:
AB 768
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Negligible costs to local law enforcement, if any.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, this bill is an attempt to
reduce the use of smokeless tobacco among youth, and was
influenced by the death of baseball's Tony Gwynn from cancer
of the mouth and salivary glands. The author asserts there is
a disproportionately high use of chewing tobacco in baseball,
and the players chewing tobacco are role models for
impressionable youth. According to the sponsor, The Campaign
for Tobacco-Free Kids, eliminating smokeless tobacco at
baseball venues in California will send a message to children
to dissociate chewing tobacco from the sport.
2)Big League Coup? Chewing tobacco is legal in California, and
does not carry many of the negative second-hand exposure
concerns inherent to cigarettes. While this bill may reduce
the incidence of chewing tobacco on the baseball field, it
does not affect use by baseball players off the field, or even
in the locker rooms or other indoor areas of the stadiums. As
a result, it is unclear whether this bill would have any
impact on overall chewing tobacco use by baseball players.
Furthermore, whether players comply with the prohibition will
not be known to most fans at the games, as it may be
impossible to ascertain from the stands. The majority of
baseball fans, including children, view baseball on
television, which does provide an opportunity to observe
players using chewing tobacco. This bill will not limit the
use of chewing tobacco in other states, and players from the
five California teams will still be able to chew tobacco on
television when playing out-of-state. Lastly, clubs, the
league, and ball parks are all free to adopt prohibitions on
AB 768
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the use of chewing tobacco if they desire. The committee may
wish to consider whether this is an appropriate issue for
state statute, and whether there are more effective means of
combatting chewing tobacco use among youths.
Analysis Prepared by:Joel Tashjian / APPR. / (916)
319-2081