Del Papa's teen tobacco proposal goes up in smoke

CARSON CITY -- In an about-face, the Assembly Thursday defeated Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa's bill to curb teenage smoking.

Del Papa said she is sorry the measure was voted down but added she intends to continue an aggressive anti-tobacco campaign.

"They threw out some good things," Del Papa said, referring to Assembly Bill 549, which lost 26-15.

"I don't feel rebuffed," Del Papa said. "You've got to take the good with the bad."

The Assembly on Wednesday approved the bill 24-17, but it was brought back Thursday as lawmakers tried to soften the penalty against teens who lie about their age to buy tobacco.

As passed originally, AB549 contained a section that a person under 18 who used false means to buy cigarettes could be hauled before a juvenile judge, who could admonish the juvenile, order counseling or impose a fine of up to $100.

Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, who voted for the bill Wednesday, asked that it be reconsidered so an amendment could be made to delete the penalty. She argued that the American Cancer Society opposes putting teens in the juvenile justice system for smoking.

The way to curb teen smoking is through advertisements and education, she said, "and not by putting teens in the overcrowded juvenile system."

The tobacco settlement with Nevada includes $7 million for education and other programs to stop teen smoking, Buckley said.

But Assemblyman John Carpenter, R-Elko, said the $100 fine would be effective in reducing the number of places where cigarettes can be purchased.

"It's ironic I have to argue for an attorney general's bill," said the Republican lawmaker. Del Papa is a Democrat.

Buckley's amendment was defeated in a standing floor vote, but no total was ever announced.

Del Papa said some good things in the bill died, such as banning cigarette vending machines in places frequented by minors. Another section of the bill would have forced the cigarette manufacturers to sell in packs of 20 instead of smaller sizes.

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