Slawik's Bill Would Penalize Adults Who Smoke With Children in the Car

Rep. Nora Slawik introduced a bill last week that would penalize adults who smoke in a car with children under 16.

“This is good public policy—it’s good health policy,” Slawik said. “We as a nation are facing skyrocketing health care costs.”

The bill, HF541, introduced Feb. 17, would subject someone caught smoking in the car with children to a $25 fine.

Such a violation would be a secondary offense, meaning they would face penalties only if they were pulled over for something else, Slawik said. That caveat is intended to make the bill more “palatable” to those who might oppose it due to concerns about personal freedoms, she said.

Slawik introduced the same bill last year, but while it got through two Senate committees and an informational hearing in a house committee, it never got to the House or Senate floor.

“I’ll keep introducing it—it’s not just a novelty,” Slawik said. “Other states have passed this.”

Here’s what’s happened this past week with other bills authored or co-authored by your legislators:

Rep. Nora Slawik and Sen. Chuck Wiger—Introduced bills that would appropriate $700,000 in bonding money toward the purchase of 70 acres of land for along Fish Creek in Maplewood to be included within the Fish Creek Natural Greeneway. HF596 and SF369, introduced Feb. 17.

Rep. Nora Slawik—Introduced a bill that would appropriate $3 million in bond proceeds to construct and rehabilitate early childhood learning and child protection facilities. HF478, introduced Feb. 14.

Rep. Nora Slawik—Co-sponsored a bill that would amend a 2010 statute that authorized funding for voluntary all-day kindergarten. HF488, introduced Feb. 14.

Rep. Nora Slawik—Co-sponsored a bill that would require a background check for the transfer of a firearm at a gun show. HF547, introduced Feb. 17.

Rep. Nora Slawik—Co-sponsored a bill that would clarify the definition of a “child with a disability.” HF552, introduced Feb. 17.

Rep. Nora Slawik—Co-sponsored a bill that would establish a pilot project to explore the alignment of pre-kindergarten programs with post-kindergarten public school programs. HF553, introduced Feb. 17.

Rep. Nora Slawik—Co-sponsored a bill that would repeal the moratorium on construction of radiation therapy facilities in Minnesota counties including Washington County. SF595, introduced Feb. 17.

Sen. Chuck Wiger—Co-sponsored a bill that would authorize a school board to create full-service school zones that provide education, health or human services, or other parental support. SF372, introduced Feb. 21.

Sen. Chuck Wiger—Co-sponsored a bill that would reduce the statute of limitations for certain civil court actions. SF373, introduced Feb. 21.

Sen. Chuck Wiger—Co-sponsored a bill that would extend the expiration period for a driver’s license for someone serving in active military service. SF395, introduced Feb. 21.