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AMERICAN <br />LUNG <br />ASSOCIATION® <br />of California <br />STATE OF TOBACCO CONTROL 2008 <br />CRITERIA FOR LOCAL GRADES <br />The American Lung Association releases its annual State of Tobacco Control Report that grades every <br />state on their tobacco control efforts in four categories- (1) Tobacco Prevention and Control Spending; <br />(2) Smokefree Air; (3) Cigarette Tax; and (4) Cessation Coverage. In recent years, the American Lung <br />Association of California has been issuing report cards that grade cities and counties in California on <br />local tobacco control laws and policies. Because California has been such a leader on the issue of <br />tobacco control and since some of the criteria for the state grades does not apply to local jurisdictions, a <br />separate grading criteria has been created for cities and counties in California to award grades in three <br />categories - <br />(1) Smokefree Outdoor Air <br />(2) Smokefree Housing <br />(3) Reducing Sales of Tobacco Products <br />Below is an overview of each of the grade categories. Included in the overview is a description of the <br />category, a summary of the relevant state laws and an explanation of the grade criteria. <br />Description -There is no doubt about the harmful health effects of secondhand smoke and this danger <br />exists notjust in indoor settings but in outdoor areas as well. Many recent scientific studies have <br />demonstrated the negative health effects of secondhand smoke exposure in outdoor settings. To <br />protect the health of their residents, many cities and counties have adopted local ordinances that <br />restrict smoking in a variety of outdoor areas ranging from parks to sidewalks. <br />State Law- California has some of the strongest laws in the nation to protect people from harmful <br />secondhand smoke exposure. However, these state laws mostly focus on workplaces and other indoor <br />areas and only a few laws restrict smoking in outdoor areas, which are detailed in the policy areas <br />below. Local jurisdictions have the explicit authority to go beyond state law and enact secondhand <br />smoke restrictions in outdoor areas. <br />Grade Criteria -The Smokefree Outdoor Air grade is based on the smoking restrictions adopted by local <br />communities in five outdoor areas- (1) Dining Areas; (2) Entryways; (3) Public Events; (4) Recreation <br />Areas; and (5) Service Areas. In the five outdoor areas, the city or county is given a grade and a point <br />value as follows - A=4; B=3; C=2; D=1; and F=O. A bonus point is available in a sixth outdoor area, <br />smoking restrictions on sidewalks in commercial areas. These grades/point values are then added <br />together for a total point value for the overall Smokefree Outdoor Air grade with a scale of: A (18+); B <br />(13-17); C (8-12); D (3-7); and F (0-2). <br />r~ ~_;~ f-~:: -~ _ <br />. _._ _ _ ~. _ .FQ <br />-. r ~1 .. - r _ ,_._ <br />Page 1 of 6 <br />