BILL ANALYSIS
AB 574
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 6, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 574 (Hill) - As Amended: April 23, 2009
Policy Committee: Health Vote:13-4
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits smoking in all areas of acute care
hospitals, including the general hospital campus, buildings,
parking areas, plazas, and sidewalks. Establishes a
patient-specific exemption to the smoking prohibition
established by this bill if authorized by a treating physician.
FISCAL EFFECT
No direct fiscal impact to the California Department of Public
Health (DPH) to continue oversight of health and safety in
California hospitals.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . This bill is co-sponsored by the California Tobacco
Control Alliance and Breathe California to create more
"teachable moments" on hospital campuses for patients and
their families. According to the author and sponsors, an acute
health episode, especially one related to smoking, creates a
heightened awareness and concern about the impact of tobacco
on one's health. In addition, the sponsors highlight recent
research on smoke-free work environments and the impact on
smoking cessation and reduced heart attacks.
2)Background . Under current law, more than 70 California
hospitals currently have voluntarily prohibited smoking
throughout their campuses. Many hospitals nationally have
smoke-free campuses and most also provide tobacco cessation
support services to both employees and patients.
Numerous studies have shown that smoke-free public places are
AB 574
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associated with sizable, rapid reductions in hospital
admissions for heart attacks. However, many of these studies
looked at only a year of data after the implementation of
smoke-free laws. More recent research, released in 2008,
addressed a three-year study in Colorado and showed a
sustained reduction in heart attack hospitalizations after a
smoke-free law took effect. Smoke-free laws reduce cardiac
hospitalizations by reducing secondhand smoke exposure among
non-smokers and reducing smoking. The larger contribution to
improved health has been shown to be the reduction in second
hand smoke.
3)Concerns . The California Hospital Association recently removed
opposition to this bill when the amendment to allow specified
patients to smoke was adopted.
4)Related Legislation . AB 3010 (Blakeslee), Chapter 505,
Statutes of 2008 authorizes the Director of the Department of
Mental Health (DMH) to prohibit the possession or use of
tobacco products on the grounds of state mental hospitals
under specified conditions.
Analysis Prepared by : Mary Ader / APPR. / (916) 319-2081