AustinTravis County Health and Human Services Department

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Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services
Department

• The role of public health is to
• Promote community-wide wellness,
• Prevent disease, and
• Protect the community from infectious diseases,
  environmental hazards, and epidemics
• Implementing A Smoking Ordinance
• Austin, Texas
• NACCHO Conference
• St. Paul, Minnesota, July, 2004
• David Lurie, Director

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HEALTH RISKS Associated with Second Hand Smoke

• ETS is a Class A carcinogen
• Associated w/multiple adverse health effects
• Restaurant bar employees at highest risk
• Smoking restriction policies are effective in
  reducing risk - smoking ban most successful

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PURPOSE

• Provide for smoke-free public areas
• Reduce public exposure to second-hand smoke
• Reduce harmful effects to the public

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PROCESS

• 1986, 1994, 2003 SIPPOs
• Exception oriented to Enforceable
• Process Input
• Advocacy Groups, Healthcare Organizations,
  Industry Representatives
• Public hearings
• May/June elections
• Task Force
• Current SIPPO passes Oct. 2003
• Effective date delayed several times
• HHSD Education campaign
• Effective June 1, 2004

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PROGRESS
1994 Current

Penalty provisions Enforcement provisions 11
Exceptions narrowly defined No one under 18
allowed in permitted areas HHSD Director may
suspend permit
No penalties provided Almost unenforceable 19
Exceptions widely defined No specific
protections for under 18
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• ENFORCEMENT

• Education/media campaign
• Voluntary compliance
• Enforcement focuses on operator/establishment
• Progressive system

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• PUBLIC EDUCATION

• Develop a comprehensive tobacco education program
  on effects and additive qualities
• Working with Local schools
• Letters/fliers mailed to organizations and
  business groups
• Conduct activities to notify businesses public
• Coordination of program with other civic or
  volunteer groups
• Community forums

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• STAYING ON MESSAGE

• Public health benefits
• Stayed with the science
• Employer/occupational benefits
• City leaders expressed appreciation and support
  of the message

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• LESSONS LEARNED

• Maintaining public health focus
• Recognizing and balancing multiple interests
• Remain within the sphere of influence
• Not losing ground, while not compromising the
  ultimate objective
• Incremental progress
• Sustaining critical relationships in an
  atmosphere of competing interests

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• OUTCOME

Sometimes substantial progress is achieved even
though the policy does not appear to be optimal.