A bill aiming to reduce vaping in schools across the Commonwealth is moving to the full Kentucky Senate. The legislation requires local school boards to develop policies to combat underage use of vaping products. It allows for in-school and out-of-school student suspension. GOP Co-Sponsor Steve Riley, a former high school administrator, said sending violators home is not common practice today.
“You want the students there. You don’t want them..you’re not going to solve anything by sending them home and let them vape all day at the mall. You’re gonna want them to be in-school suspension,” said Riley.
Testifying with concerns was Ashlea Christiansen with the American Heart Association. She said data collection will be beneficial and educating students. Christiansen said punishment doesn’t work in dealing with this issue.
“I’ve been an attorney for crime victims for a long time so my initial reaction is “yes” punishment works. But what we know through research and data is it doesn’t always. And so I think we have to take a really hard look at how we want to work this and what’s gonna actually make an impact,” said Christiansen.
Christiansen said more enforcement at the point of sale is important. The House bill is before the full Senate.
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