Bullitt County Public Schools

1040 Highway 44 East Phone: 502-869-8000

Shepherdsville, Kentucky 40165 Fax: 502-543-3608
www.bullittschools.org

BULLITT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RE: E-CIGARETTE/VAPING LITIGATION

November 27, 2019

The Bullitt County Board of Education has unanimously passed a resolution to initiate litigation against
the manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices and products.
Bullitt County Public Schools, like every other school district in the country, has witnessed a dramatic
increase in the use of vaping products by its students. The targeting of school children by these
companies in their marketing campaigns has resulted in an epidemic of nicotine addiction in children.

“In recent years, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of infractions that involve vaping in
our middle and high schools. The amount of resources being used and the instructional time that is lost
as a result of this issue is alarming, to say the least. We are filing a lawsuit against JUUL and other
similar companies to hold them accountable for creating this epidemic of nicotine addiction that affects
the health of our students, disrupts the learning environment of our schools, and diverts resources away
from the core mission of Bullitt County Public Schools, which is educating students,” states BCPS
Superintendent, Jesse Bacon.

As the leader in educational excellence, it is our responsibility to take all steps necessary to protect our
students and to assure parents that we always have and will continue to provide the best possible
educational experience for all of the children of Bullitt County. This responsibility now leads us to take
the extraordinary step of filing a lawsuit to stop the insidious marketing practices of these companies
that target children and to compensate our schools for the losses sustained in fighting this epidemic.

A copy of the resolution approved by the Bullitt County Board of Education at the November 25, 2019,
regular meeting is attached.

Equal Education and Employment Institution

 November 25, 2019
Regular Business Meeting
Bullitt County Board of Education

Resolution Authorizing Litigation Against JUUL and other

Manufacturers, Distributors and Sellers
of Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Products
** ** ** ** **
Whereas, there has been a significant increase in the number of Bullitt County Public School
(BCPS) students who use electronic cigarettes or vaping products;

Whereas, youth vaping is at epidemic levels locally and nationally;

Whereas, the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Office of Surgeon General has found that vaping products are unsafe for kids and
teens;

Whereas, nicotine use by school-aged people likely increases the risk of nicotine addiction when
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they b�come adults;

Whereas, the marketing practices of JUUL and similar companies have targeted kids and teens;

Whereas, on September 9, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent JUUL a warning
letter alleging improper marketing practices;

Whereas, BCPS and its employees spend a significant amount of time and resources disciplining
students for possession and use of vaping products;

Whereas, BCPS and its employees spend a significant amount of time and resources providing
counseling and educational services to students related to the use of vaping products;

Whereas, the use and possession of vaping products by students causes a significant interruption
of the educational process;

Whereas, BCPS believes it is entitled to compensation for its efforts and resources expended to
combat vaping by its students;

Whereas, BCPS believes it is entitled to compensation for the interruption of the educational
process caused by vaping manufactures and distributors;

Whereas, BCPS desires to reduce the number of its students who use vaping products;

Whereas, BCPS desires to stop JUUL and similar companies from marketing vaping products to
its students; and,

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