Write a Letter : BREATHE LA Supports AB 574

The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor, State of California
State Capitol Building, 1st Floor
Sacramento, CA. 95814

RE: AB 574 (Hill) - SUPPORT

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

As someone concerned with promoting clean air and healthy lungs through tobacco control programs, I urge you to pass AB 574 (Hill), which would ensure healthy and smoke free hospital campuses in California. Now that the Senate and Assembly have approved this bill, please enable all Californians to have smoke-free hospital campuses.

There are already 73 smoke-free hospital campuses in California, including all Kaiser affiliated hospital campuses. Smoking is contrary to a hospital's mission of treating the ill and promoting public health.

Smoke free hospital campuses encourage patients, visitors and employees to quit smoking while simultaneously providing protections from involuntary exposure to the unhealthy effects of second hand smoke. Research and studies confirm that hospital employees in smoke free environments are more likely to quit smoking than employees in hospitals without smoking restrictions. Particularly for individuals who suffer from asthma symptoms, exposure to tobacco smoke on hospital campuses can trigger asthma attacks at the very location that patients are seeking treatment and care.

Hospitals that have taken this important step in advancing public health report almost no problems with compliance or enforcement of their restrictions, with minimal cost. We respectfully urge passage of AB 574.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

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