SB2302 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 18319 LCT 53630 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB2302

Introduced 1/12/2006, by Sen. William R. Haine

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Cigarette Fire Safety Standard Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2008, no cigarettes may be sold in Illinois unless the manufacturer certifies that cigarettes have been certified as low ignition strength in accordance with standards established by the American Society of Testing and Materials and no more than 25% of the cigarettes it manufactures exhibit full-length burns when tested. Provides that the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall adopt rules for the implementation of the Act, which shall include provisions to allow wholesalers and retailers to transition their existing inventories. Effective January 1, 2008.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning fire safety.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Cigarette Fire Safety Standard Act.

Section 5. Findings; declaration. It has been established that cigarettes are the leading cause of fire deaths in the United States each year, claiming 1,000 lives and causing nearly 2,000 injuries and nearly $400,000,000 in direct property damage. The sale of low ignition strength cigarettes have shown to greatly reduce the number of fire deaths in other parts of the country. It is declared that the establishment of low ignition standards for cigarettes sold in the State of Illinois will affect the public health, safety, and welfare of its citizens.

Section 10. Sale of cigarettes; low ignition strength. Beginning January 1, 2008, no cigarettes may be sold in Illinois unless the manufacturer certifies that the cigarettes have been certified as low ignition strength in accordance with standards established by the American Society of Testing and Materials and no more than 25% of the cigarettes it manufactures exhibit full-length burns when tested.

For the purposes of this Section, "low ignition strength" mean the cigarette has a greater capacity to self-extinguish if left unattended.

Section 15. Rules. The Office of the State Fire Marshal shall adopt rules for the implementation of this Act, which shall include provisions to allow wholesalers and retailers to transition their existing inventories.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2008.