California, the health-conscious state which has often led US efforts to curb smoking, has taken a major step to end smoking in its prison system under a bill passed by one house of the legislature.
The Democrat-dominated assembly passed a measure by a vote of 64 to 4 that would amend the state's penal code to bar tobacco products from prisons and youth correctional facilities. Violators are subject to a $200 fine for a first-time violation and $1,000 for a third offence.
The measure is seen as a way to save the state money on health care as well as improve the health of inmates. Some parts California's criminal justice system such as county jails already ban smoking, but the new legislation institutes a wider prohibition.
"It makes perfect sense as far as public health is concerned, it makes perfect sense as far as discipline within the prisons," said assemblyman Mr Rick Keene.
Bill sponsor Mr Tim Leslie, a Republican assemblyman, said in an interview that about half of the 160,000 prisoners in the state correctional system smoke, costing California $280 million in related health care costs.