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New York state legistators aim to ban e-cigarettes

"New York City did it,” Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, D-Manhattan, said. "The rest of New York state needs the same protection."

By Brooks Hays
An electronic cigarettes package is seen in Washington, D.C. on April 24, 2014. On Thursday, the FDA proposed rules that call for strict regulation of electronic cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, nicotine gels, water pipe tobacco and hookahs. Currently, the FDA only has regulatory authority over cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and roll-your-own tobacco. UPI/John Angelillo
An electronic cigarettes package is seen in Washington, D.C. on April 24, 2014. On Thursday, the FDA proposed rules that call for strict regulation of electronic cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, nicotine gels, water pipe tobacco and hookahs. Currently, the FDA only has regulatory authority over cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and roll-your-own tobacco. UPI/John Angelillo | License Photo

ALBANY, N.Y., April 29 (UPI) -- A group of New York state lawmakers have crafted a bill that would ban electronic cigarettes in public spaces.

“We want the same restrictions for e-cigarettes as regular cigarettes,” said Sen. Kemp Hannon, R-Nassau County, the chairman of the Senate Health Committee.

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E-cigarettes, also called personal vaporizers or PVs, allow users to inhale a smoke-like vapor by heating a liquid solution -- usually a mixture of nicotine and flavorings.

Last week, the FDA announced plans to begin regulating e-cigarettes.

New York City is one of several major U.S. cities that has already banished e-cigarettes; its ban took effect this week. Gotham residents can no longer smoke e-cigs anywhere regular cigarettes are also prohibited, including public spaces like bars, restaurants, offices, parks and beaches.

Now, legislators in Albany want the rest of the state to follow suit. State reps are confident the measure will pass as part of the more comprehensive Indoor Clean Air Act bill.

"New York City did it,” Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, D-Manhattan, said. "The rest of New York state needs the same protection."

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