FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A new campaign to prevent Kentucky kids from smoking is kicking off this week in Frankfort.
Youth ambassadors are among those asking lawmakers to pass a statewide tobacco-free school law.
Legislation filed at the statehouse would make all Kentucky K-12 schools 100 percent tobacco-free beginning July 1st, 2020. The ban would include e-cigarettes.
While teen smoking rates have fallen, e-cigarettes use among teens has risen more than 70 percent in the past year.
Illnesses related to smoking are estimated to cost the state nearly $2 billion each year.
(Photo: WLKY)