A couple of Illinois laws come into play in 2015 that may be of interest to parents. One of the laws addresses the sale of cigarettes and alternative nicotine products to minors and another tackles the issue of cyber-bullying. Two topics of growing concern, particularly among parents of school-aged children.
Most parents hope their children will avoid using tobacco products in the interest of remaining healthy. Lately, there have been a multitude of related products hitting the market that may be cause for concern such as smokeless cigarettes. These newfangled ‘e-cigs’ hold a particular appeal to youthful consumers – they come loaded with all the bells and whistles of varied colors, themes and multi-flavored choices.
The new Illinois Law HB5868 hopes to curb the sale of all tobacco related products to minors. The law states that, unless you are primarily a retail tobacco store (90% tobacco related sales), single-pack cigarettes and alternative nicotine products such as the ‘popular-among-youth’ e-cigarettes must be sold from an age restricted area or a sealed display case. Any other tobacco products must be sold within line of site. With these enhanced restrictions in place, kids will certainly have a bigger hurdle to overcome, which may curtail the use of these products.
Another 2015 law takes a swing at the issue of cyber-bullying. There has been plenty of news coverage regarding cyber-bullying and its negative effects on students. Sadly, some incidences have culminated in tragic outcomes. Since electronic media is accessible from anywhere, both parents and schools find themselves responsible for addressing this pervasive problem.
In our last blog we reviewed an Illinois law passed in 2014 which gave parents the right to supervise and monitor the electronic accounts of their children without fear of repercussion, perhaps aiding in the cause of stopping negative online exchanges. In 2015, Illinois House Bill 4207 strives to empower schools to act against students that bully peers.
In a nutshell, the new law gives schools a means to investigate, discipline or refer to an appropriate jurisdiction, all students engaging in cyber-bullying on or off campus, with any device if it interferes with or limits the victim’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities offered by a school or substantially disrupts the educational process or orderly operation of a school.
If you are interested in taking a look at other Illinois laws effective in 2015, visit slideshare.net’s “Top Fifteen Illinois Laws of 2015” slideshow. The Law Offices of Ronald L. Bell & Associates wish you a prosperous and healthy New Year. If you or a family member are seeking expert family law services or have other legal needs, please contact our office today. We are here to help.
Source: Illinois General Assembly, accessed January 5, 2015.