Elected officials in Albany County, N.Y. has passed an increase to the minimum age to purchase tobacco products, approving the proposal 24-13 with one abstention on Monday and sending it to county executive Dan McCoy for his signature. Should McCoy sign it, it will make Albany County the second in the state to pass such an increase this year, as Chatuatqua County passed an increase at the end of April. Suffolk County passed an increase in April 2014, while New York City, which has five counties in its borders, passed an increase in May 2014. Legislation at the state level has yet to advance out of either chamber. McCoy has not said whether or not he will sign it, according to TimesUnion.com. The 24 votes indicate that the county council could override a veto should the county executive go that route. Albany County had a 2013 population estimate of 306,945 people.
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