Maine:DHS creates smoking rules for foster homes, vehicles

bangordailynews.com ^ | 2-26-04 | Nok-Noi Hauger

[SheLion]

BANGOR - Protecting the lungs of little ones in foster care from the effects of secondhand smoke is the primary reason behind a new law in Maine." Secondhand smoke is really dangerous for kids," said Janet Spencer, director of Bangor Region Partners for Health. "Their lungs are in a developing stage and anything that is pulled into their lungs can potentially be harmful in the long run. In a lot of ways secondhand smoke is more harmful."

The law, which was enacted last fall, calls for the Maine Department of Human Services to "adopt rules on smoking by foster parents in family foster homes and in foster parents' private vehicles. The rules must include ways to protect foster children from secondhand smoke."

DHS drafted new smoking rules for a Jan. 1 deadline tied to the new smoking law and provisionally adopted the rules on Dec. 23, 2003. The Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services started to review the proposed rules on Jan. 7.

On Tuesday, the committee held a public hearing to review a revised draft of the rules, said Newell Augur, director of legislative and public affairs for the Department of Human Services. 

The rules need legislative approval before DHS can adopt them, said Jane Orbeton of the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis, because they are a mandated part of the new law.

"A work session will be held this coming Tuesday," she said. "At that point they'll [the committee] make the decision on whether to approve the rules, disapprove or approve with modifications."

The committee meeting is at 1 p.m. March 2 in Room 202 of the Cross Office Building in Augusta.

The committee's recommendations then would be brought to the floor of the House. 

The draft version of the rules is basic, said Augur.

"Smoking is prohibited in a foster home when a foster child is in placement," the proposed rules state.

The new rules also would prohibit smoking in vehicles whenever a foster child is present or within 24 hours of a foster child entering the vehicle. 

Under the new rules, foster parents would be allowed to smoke in their homes when foster children are absent from the home. However, "smoking is prohibited within 24 hours prior to their expected return."

There also would be a 24-hour restriction on smoking before the arrival of a foster child placed in respite care. The proposed new policy falls under the licensing rules for family foster homes for children.

The smoking law was weakened from the original version, which sought to impose a flat-out smoking ban in all foster family surroundings. The enacted version orders the DHS to adopt rules that take into account the rights of foster parents, said its sponsor, Rep. David Trahan, R-Waldoboro.

According to the Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine's Web site, one Mainer dies every day from exposure to secondhand smoke.

The new law passed during the first regular session of the 121st Legislature on June 13, 2003.

[SheLion]

PUFF

[metesky]

State House E-Mail: RepDavid.Trahan@legislature.maine.gov

This guy needs an education.

Once more a RINO swallows the propaganda and leads the charge to restrict the property rights of his constituents.

[metesky]

My email to Trahan:

Rep. Trahan:

Please produce one Death Certificate that states: Cause of death - Second Hand Smoke.

You can't do it because it is a lie, sir.

You should know that the EPA's Second Hand Smoke junk science was struck down by a Federal court almost six years ago:

Court Rules Against EPA on Secondhand Smoke

Further, you should realize that the number of annual deaths from directly smoking tobacco is not based on epidemiology, but on computer modeling for which the phrase "GIGO" (Garbage In, Garbage Out) was coined.

Smoking Kills - The most preventable cause of premature death in the United States?

You have been gulled by the forces of Puritanism. Restrictions on the actions of a free people are more often associated with Democrats, not someone who is nominally Republican.

I realize that "who pays the piper calls the tune", but in my opinion your attempt to regulate the lives and living conditions of well intentioned people who have given their time and homes over to helping foster children will result in either a drop in the number of people who are willing to disrupt their life styles for a few bucks or a horde of sheep willing to do the State's bidding on any subject.

Of course the latter is what you aim for...

Insincerely,
metesky

[CSM]

"According to the Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine's Web site, one Mainer dies every day from exposure to secondhand smoke."

Sure, every day I see at least one person keel over in the bar or restaurant when someone lites up. These people are completely correct, cigarettes are as much of a weapon as a gun! (sarc)

This is just one more incremental step to banning smoking in private homes. Once this is accepted, anyone with children will be subjects of this set of fascist rules.

Glad to see that their potential pool of foster parents will now be reduced by 25%! It is clear from this proposal that the real concern is behavior control, not placing children in a family environment. Those kids are so much easier to indoctrinate when they only have the government in their lives. Parental roles be danged, the state knows best!

[Gabz]

They obviously are NOT in desperate need of foster parents in Maine.

It's a pretty sad state of affairs when a state, such as Maine, finds "couples" such as Joe Cherner and his "partner" more acceptable to help displaced children that a truly married couple who just so happen to be smokers.

[JHENN22499]

ok..this does it.. I can't believe it's gone this far........ I may barf....as I smoke my cig and cheer my son in the Navy

[Gabz]

God bless your son for his service to us and our country.

[SheLion]

This guy needs an education.

What did he do, metesky? I can't find his name in this article!

[SheLion]

OH! THERE HE IS! I see his name now. Well, you KNOW he is lining his pockets with smokers TAX dollars! So he spews all these lies. Mainers dying from SHS my arse. And the general public believes this garbage! Geesh!

[SheLion]

EXCELLENT letter, metesky. I applaud you! Be sure to let me know if you get a response from "rag head!" What a RINO "HE" is!!!!!!!!

[SheLion]

Glad to see that their potential pool of foster parents will now be reduced by 25%! It is clear from this proposal that the real concern is behavior control, not placing children in a family environment. Those kids are so much easier to indoctrinate when they only have the government in their lives. Parental roles be danged, the state knows best!

I just KNOW that the anti's in here will say "Well, your addicted. You can't go without your smokes in order to give some poor kid a home."

But that is NOT the point here. It's the principal!

[Mears]

Just reading the article made me fume (and smoke).

Where on earth do these idiots come from?

What on earth has happened to Maine? Is it all the Massachusetts transplants?

[Madame Dufarge]

According to the Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine's Web site, one Mainer dies every day from exposure to secondhand smoke.

This outright lie and piece of propaganda was printed in a NEWS article.

It would be closer to the truth if it had read, "According to Madame Dufarge, one conservative Mainer dies every day from exposure to the Bangor Daily News.

There are approximately 50 of us left.

[Marie]

... but Prozac is fine...

[WV Mountain Mama]

I thought the biggest danger to foster kids is the fact that they got put into foster care. Their parents were either abusing them or the govt overstepped it bounds.

My grandfather smoked lucky strikes unfiltered his whole life and my mom and uncle are fine.

[swarthyguy]

Next step. Non foster parents.

[Madame Dufarge]

Next step. Non foster parents.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind. The foster parents are just the beta version.

[Great Dane]

Don't they have enough trouble getting foster parents.

[Gabz]

I saw this on another smoker-friendly forum and thought it was a hoot!!!