Bill Text: IL SR0318 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Declares March 29, 2017 as "Smoke-Free Illinois Day".

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2017-03-29 - Resolution Adopted [SR0318 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-SR0318-Introduced.html

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SR0318 LRB100 11969 MST 23853 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, There are 7,000 chemicals in secondhand smoke,
hundreds of which are toxic and 70 of which are known to cause
cancer; and
WHEREAS, Exposure to secondhand smoke has an immediate
adverse impact on the cardiovascular system, damaging blood
vessels, increasing the likelihood of clots, heart attacks, and
strokes; it increases the risk of emphysema, lung cancer, and
other chronic diseases and causes premature death in children
and adults who do not smoke; and
WHEREAS, Tobacco use is responsible for 18,300 deaths in
Illinois annually, including most lung cancer deaths; and
WHEREAS, Each year, the State of Illinois spends $5.49
billion on health care costs for tobacco-related illnesses and
has to manage a Medicaid burden of $1.9 billion; these health
and economic costs are shared by every Illinois resident,
regardless of whether or not they smoke; and
WHEREAS, Proactive tobacco control policies can save lives
and dollars; grassroots volunteers in Illinois worked for more
than 30 years to pass legislation to reduce the harmful effects
of smoking and secondhand smoke; and

SR0318 - 2 - LRB100 11969 MST 23853 r
WHEREAS, The 95th Illinois General Assembly passed Senate
Bill 500 - the Smoke Free Illinois Act, prohibiting smoking in
all workplaces and public places, including bars and
restaurants on March 29, 2007; and
WHEREAS, Since the passage of the Smoke Free Illinois Act,
there has been a nearly 20.5% decrease in hospitalizations from
asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and
acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) among Illinois
adults; the drop in asthma and heart attacks has resulted in
savings of more than $1 billion for Illinois; and
WHEREAS, The adult smoking rate in Illinois in 2007 was
20.7%; as of 2017, the rate has fallen to 15.l%; the 2007 high
school smoking rate was 21.7%; as of 2017, the rate has fallen
to 15.1%; the 2007 middle school smoking rate was 8.8%; as of
2017, the rate has fallen to 2%; and
WHEREAS, Illinois children are growing up in a smoke-free
public indoor environment, and do not remember, or have never
heard the question "do you want to sit in the smoking or
non-smoking section"; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare March 29,

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2017 as "Smoke-Free Illinois Day" in recognition of the
improved health benefits by Illinois going smoke-free ten years
ago; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the American Lung Association as a symbol of our
respect and esteem.