After hearing increasing concerns from teachers and principals, the Utah Board of Education passed an emergency measure Thursday allowing schools to ban electronic cigarettes and vaping devices — and to create rules to confiscate, destroy or turn them over to law enforcement when students do bring them to campus.
“This gives school districts a simple direction and a simple solution that they now have control over,” board Chairman Mark Huntsman said.
The new policies, which had unanimous support, will take effect Jan. 8 — the start of the winter term. And every public school district and charter in the state will be required to create an individual policy on how they will restrict e-cigarette devices and products.