Following the lead of several other states, Texas as of Jan. 1 will prohibit foster parents from smoking in their home if they have foster children living there, the Associated Press reported Dec. 4.

New rules that will take effect at the start of 2007 also will bar foster parents from smoking in their car if children are with them. State regulators had considered prohibiting foster parents from smoking anywhere on the premises of a home where foster children reside, but relented in order to allow foster parents to smoke outside.

"The state acts as the legal parents of children in foster custody; these kids are our children," said Patrick Crimmins, spokesman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. "It doesn't make sense to unnecessarily subject them to health hazards like secondhand smoke."

A report released this year by former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, M.D., stated that children exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk of respiratory problems and sudden infant death syndrome.

Texas joins states such as Washington, Maine and Vermont in imposing smoking restrictions on foster parents.