North Country Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, says a measure she sponsored to protect student health by banning electronic cigarettes on school grounds has received final passage and is now headed to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

The measure (S.750) would ban the use of electronic devices that are widely known as “e-cigarettes” on school buses and school-owned property. While tobacco use is banned on school grounds, current law does not prohibit e-cigarettes.

The bill, which was approved by the Senate in March, passed the Assembly Wednesday, where Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal sponsored it.

“As a mother and grandmother, I know there are few things more important than the health and safety of our children,” said Ritchie. “This new law will help to protect student health by ensuring e-cigarettes do not have a place in the schoolyard or on school buses, as well as will help to deter children from picking up other addictive habits, like smoking cigarettes.”

E-cigarettes are not permitted to be sold to minors and many districts have taken steps on their own to prohibit their use on school grounds.

According to recent studies by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the usage of e-cigarettes has skyrocketed 800 percent among teens over the past six years. 

In addition, the Senate passed similar legislation (S.2543-A) that would ban the use of e-cigarettes inside restaurants and workplaces.

The bill was passed by the Assembly and now awaits action from the governor.