Illinois Colleges to be Smoke-Free Indoors and Out

Students at Illinois' public colleges will no longer be permitted to light up on campus starting next summer.

Gov. Pat Quinn says he's signed a law that bans indoor and outdoor smoking at all state-supported colleges and universities. The ban takes effect July 1, 2015.

Quinn says the measure will protect students' health and help nonsmokers avoid unwanted smoke. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Terry Link of Waukegan and state Rep. Ann Williams of Chicago, both Democrats.

The law allows exceptions for smoking inside privately owned vehicles traveling through campus and some activities under the federal American Indian Religious Freedom Act. Another bill signed by Quinn allows smoking on campus inside parked, non-state-owned vehicles.

Several Illinois colleges already have adopted smoke-free policies.