HF 2362

as introduced - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                             A resolution
  1.2             memorializing Congress to pass legislation requiring 
  1.3             cigarettes that are less likely to start fires. 
  1.4      
  1.5      WHEREAS, cigarette-related fires are the leading cause of 
  1.6   fire deaths in Minnesota and the United States and have been for 
  1.7   many years; and 
  1.8      WHEREAS, a technical study group mandated by the federal 
  1.9   1984 Safe Cigarette Act reported to Congress that it was 
  1.10  technologically and may be economically feasible to produce a 
  1.11  cigarette that is less likely to start fires; and 
  1.12     WHEREAS, there have been three failed attempts to pass 
  1.13  federal legislation that would give the Consumer Product Safety 
  1.14  Commission the power to regulate cigarettes as fire hazards; and 
  1.15     WHEREAS, the Minnesota Legislature believes the risk to 
  1.16  firefighters and all Minnesotans could be reduced by requiring 
  1.17  tobacco companies to market only cigarettes that are less likely 
  1.18  to start fires; and 
  1.19     WHEREAS, the Minnesota Legislature realizes that a state 
  1.20  law may be rendered less effective by the availability of 
  1.21  noncomplying cigarettes from other states; and 
  1.22     WHEREAS, the development of appropriate regulations to 
  1.23  reduce the risk of cigarette-related fires and the enforcement 
  1.24  of such regulations can be most efficiently and effectively 
  2.1   accomplished at the national level through federal legislation; 
  2.2   and 
  2.3      WHEREAS, the Minnesota Legislature has historically 
  2.4   provided for and addressed the needs and concerns of our Fire 
  2.5   Service and the safety of its citizens whenever possible; NOW, 
  2.6   THEREFORE, 
  2.7      BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota 
  2.8   that it urges Congress to pass legislation requiring cigarettes 
  2.9   that are less likely to start fires. 
  2.10     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the 
  2.11  State of Minnesota is directed to prepare copies of this 
  2.12  memorial and transmit them to the Consumer Product Safety 
  2.13  Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, the appropriate 
  2.14  standing committees of the United States House of 
  2.15  Representatives and the United States Senate, and Minnesota's 
  2.16  Senators and Representatives in Congress.