Kids pitch smoke law bill

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Michelle Lim would like to stamp out secondhand smoke in public places.

But Michelle and her colleagues don’t think the Legislature is ready to take that step.

Still, she and more than 25 others have prepared a less-stringent secondhand smoke bill that will be heard during the upcoming Legislative session in Olympia.

They’re ready to pound on their desks and fight for what they believe is right for the people of Washington.

But you won’t find Michelle and her peers’ desks on the Senate floor. They’re in a fifth- and sixth-grade classroom at Terrace Park School.

The bill is part of an endeavor by more than 80 students at Terrace Park, called "Project Citizen."

Three groups of about 27 students each took on a meaningful issue and learned how to enact policy, or enforce existing policy to deal with it at a local, state or federal level.

In addition to the secondhand smoke group, the two other groups took on violence in video games and sidewalk improvements.

Katie Blackburn, who teaches gifted students in Terrace Park’s Challenge Program, was trained in coordinating "Project Citizen" while she worked at a school in Burbank, Calif.

"We couldn’t overload their workload for homework, so most outside work they did (on the project) was purely volunteer," Blackburn said. "They were just very passionate about finding ways to help in the community and making sure their voice was heard, regardless of their age."

Since October, students spent an hour and a half every Wednesday working on their projects, and the secondhand smoke proposal caught the attention of state Sen. Paull Shin, D-Mukilteo.

Shin last year co-sponsored legislation that would have banned smoking in all public places, but the bill never made it to either floor in the Legislature.

The students’ bill would ban smoking within a 35-foot radius outside of a public place, such as a restaurant or bowling alley. Even though smoking is allowed inside most of those places, the students felt that people walking in and out shouldn’t be subjected to secondhand smoke.

The bill is a proposed revision to Washington’s Clean Indoor Air Act, which states that no person may smoke in a public place except in designated smoking areas.

"We’re going to try to send it to the government and see if it can be made into a law," the sixth-grade Michelle said.

Brandon Lowe, another sixth-grader, said he thinks the students’ bill would be a big help.

"I’ve experienced secondhand smoke, and it’s not very fun," Brandon said. "Mostly in bowling alleys, that’s where it’s really bad."

Brandon said he was surprised to work on such a significant project in a sixth-grade class.

"We barely worked on government and politics and stuff," he said. "It’s kinda cool because we actually get to do something in the community."

Shin said he already has the support of three senators, and Rep. Al O’Brien, D-Mountlake Terrace, is going to introduce the same bill in the House.

The students’ bill could get the ball rolling toward a full ban, which Shin still hopes will pass eventually.

The full ban "is going to be a fight in both houses," Shin said, noting that the children’s 35-foot radius proposal has a better chance. "It’s not a full ban, so it could be less controversial. At least it could get something started."

Politics aside, though, Shin couldn’t contain his excitement about the children’s project.

"Can you imagine fifth- and sixth-grade kids could come up with an idea like that?" he said. "I’m so inspired by them. I’m totally impressed. If this is what American children represent for the future, then I have big hopes and dreams for the future."

Reporter Victor Balta: 425-339-3455 or vbalta@heraldnet.com.

A look at some key points of a bill written by some Terrace Park School fifth- and sixth-graders that would prohibit smoking within 35 feet of a public place: