A Bucks County municipality has taken stand against smokers.
A new policy approved in Doylestown Township takes smokers out of the running for jobs with the township. Township officials tell NBC10 that the new policy applies only to new hires and wouldn’t change police department hiring.
The Patch.com has more details:
In Doylestown Township, any new government employee will be required to not use tobacco, which includes smoking cigarettes or using chewing tobacco or any other form, Supervisor Barbara Lyons said Tuesday.
This would apply both at work and at home.
The requirement will affect any new employee hired after January 1, 2012. The township doesn't plan to hire additional employees now, but township manager Stephanie Mason said they wanted the new policy in place when a position became vacant.
The reason for the policy is to save money on health insurance, a township manager told NBC10.
The policy isn’t illegal because Pennsylvania has no “smoker protection” laws in place, according to the American Lung Association.
Township parks and buildings are already smoke-free.
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