TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Robert Brown, Interim Chief of Police
SUBJECT:
title
Resolution Requesting Authorization to Accept a Grant to Assist Joliet's Tobacco Enforcement Program
end
BACKGROUND:
Although considerable gains have been made against smoking among U.S. adults, this progress has not been realized with young people. While cigarette smoking among adolescents may have declined since 2014, the opposite has occurred with vaping products. The Centers for Disease Control suggests that 1 of every 10 high school students actively vapes e-cigarettes (https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm).
The State of Illinois is mandated to ensure that a minimum of eighty percent (80%) of all businesses within the state is compliant with current minimum age requirements for tobacco and tobacco product sales. In previous years, sting operations were conducted by state Tobacco Enforcement Specialists in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration. It was determined that the FDA lacks legal authority to conduct these checks, and responsibility for overseeing them was transferred to the state.
The City of Joliet has been offered $18,647.00 to conduct tobacco compliance checks. Our participation in this program has been consistent for over twenty-five years; it will involve persons under the legal purchase age (21) attempting to purchase tobacco and tobacco products at every licensed business in the city. Similar to alcohol compliance checks, officers will accompany each program participant and witness any transactions that occur. State-sanctioned parental permission slips will be obtained before implementation for participants under 18. The State of Illinois has provided the necessary training to police department staff.
Eligible expenses include any costs incurred with conducting these checks, including officer overtime, administrative costs, stipends to student participants, and tobacco purchases. T...
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