The Jackson County Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) and the Jackson County Tobacco Education Committee are sponsoring local efforts to help make Altus and Jackson County a healthier place to live. According to their literature, "The community is setting a good example that they don't want their youth to get their hands on tobacco ad they don't want their community members to be subject to secondhand smoke exposure. Parks and schools are established to promote healthy activities; tobacco-free policies fit with this idea. Altus Public Schools and Western Oklahoma State College are currently setting a great example of a healthy lifestyle by implementing a 24/7 tobacco-free policy."

On March 20, the SWAT team requested the Altus City Council to draft ordinances related to Oklahoma State law on the use and prevention of youth access to tobacco. This was a three-part request for tobacco-free parks, limiting youth access to tobacco and a clean indoor air ordinance. These three ordinances have been approved in other communities in Oklahoma, including Duke. ONly two will be considered this week at the City Council.

According to the Agenda Item Commentary from the City of Altus for the City Council meeting, Thursday, July 8, the staff had been waiting to hear from the Oklahoma Municipal League (OML) regarding the Smoking in Public Places and Indoor Workplaces Act. That information has been received.

Now the council will "consider, discuss and vote to approve Emergency Ordinance 2010-06 adopting state laws from the Smoking in Public Places and Indoor Workplaces Act, Smoking in Certain Public Areas Prohibited, and Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Act, using OML Draft Ordinances as a guide; vote to declare an emergency and set a later effective date."

To help reduce the possession of tobacco products by juveniles, in another ordinance, 2010-07, the council will consider, discuss and vote "to add curfew and possession and receipt of tobacco products by minors" to the amended interlocal agreement between the Jackson County District Court and the City of Altus.

As to the SWAT request to the council for an ordinance on Tobacco-Free Parks, the City is waiting for an Attorney General opinion to clarify a "legality" issue.