Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. announced that only hours after both the Senate and Assembly overwhelmingly passed his legislation that would prohibit exposure to secondhand smoke through a statewide smoking ban in all places of employment, Governor George E. Pataki signed the measure into law.

"New York State is today taking the necessary steps to protect its residents from the dangers of secondhand smoke because it is an intrusion upon nonsmokers and children's health and well-being," Fuschillo said. "While it was originally considered a nuisance that had been dealt with over the years, it is now a known fact that secondhand smoke, consisting of 4,000 chemicals, takes the lives of 53,000 people each year."

"A statewide ban on smoking in the workplace will lead to a healthier New York and will reduce the cost of health care for New Yorkers," said a spokesperson for Governor Pataki.

The legislation amends the New York Clean Indoor Act of 1989, by prohibiting smoking in virtually all work places and public places, including restaurants, schools, daycare centers, health care facilities, billiard parlors, auditoriums, zoos, theaters, retail stores, public transportation facilities and bars. It is widely supported by health and business organizations including the Medical Society of the State of New York, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, NYS Nurses Association, NYS Restaurant Association (representing 8,000 restaurant owners), NYPIRG and more. Exemptions exist for private homes, automobiles, a hotel or motel room, retail tobacco businesses, established cigar bars, outdoor areas of restaurants with no roof, separate enclosed rooms of residential health care and adult facilities, and volunteer organizations without employees such as an American Legion Hall.

The American Heart Association declares secondhand smoke to be the third leading cause of preventable death in this country. Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, 200 of which are poisons and 43 cause cancer. A recent study showed that even a 30-minute exposure to secondhand smoke decreases the blood flow and increases the likelihood of having a heart attack.

The US Environmental Protection Agency classifies secondhand smoke as a "Group A" carcinogen, a category reserved for the most dangerous cancer-causing chemicals such as arsenic, asbestos, benzene, radon and 10 other poisons.

The American Lung Association cites studies that found half of the causes of early childhood asthma are due to secondhand smoke exposure and it causes as many as one million asthma attacks in children every year.

According to Senator Fuschillo, the law will take effect July 24, 2003.

Senator Fuschillo, Jr. wants to remind residents that there is a way to help in the fight against breast cancer when filing your taxes. As a result of a law he authored, residents can contribute to the Breast Cancer Research and Education Fund on their New York State income tax return. This year's form includes a place where taxpayers can write in a donation to the fund.

"When people are preparing their state income tax, they can send the message that New Yorkers are committed to win the battle against breast cancer," Fuschillo said. "Let's make April 15 the most important day in the effort to fund the research needed to find a prevention and a cure. We can also try to help women who are already coping with the devastating effects of breast cancer."

According to Fuschillo, since the check-off law that he sponsored was signed, nearly 396,000 people have made contributions. Nearly $3.9 million in contributions have supported 28 breast cancer research and education projects at academic medical institutions and public, private and state organizations throughout New York State.

Today, funds from the income tax check-off are supporting research efforts that include the development of a procedure to better identify cells which may spread cancer from a tumor; a program to improve breast cancer prevention and screening in minority groups; new technology to test suspicious lesions; and improved procedures to determine the best course of treatment.

"The income tax check-off is a simple and effective way for New Yorkers to join in the effort to free women and their families from the toll of breast cancer. Every dollar helps support and advance ground-breaking scientific research that will help carry us forward to the day when we know how to cure and prevent breast cancer," Fuschillo said.

Here is where you can find the Breast Cancer Check-Off on your income tax return forms:

IT-100, Line 8

IT-200, Line 28

IT-201, Line 56.

If you would like more information on the Breast Cancer Check-Off program, go to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website at www.tax.state.ny.us. Or, call Senator Fuschillo's District Office at 546-4100.