Bill Text: NC S703 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Limit Local Regulation Of Outdoor Smoking
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-05-14 - Re-ref Com On State and Local Government [S703 Detail]
Download: North_Carolina-2013-S703-Introduced.html
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2013
S D
SENATE DRS35198-MG-107 (03/15)
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Short Title: Limit Local Regulation Of Outdoor Smoking. |
(Public) |
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Sponsors: |
Senators Newton, Jackson, and Brock (Primary Sponsors). |
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Referred to: |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT prohibiting local governments and local community colleges from regulating outdoor smoking in a manner that is more restrictive than state law.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 130A‑498 reads as rewritten:
"§ 130A‑498. Local governments may restrict smoking in public places.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsectionsubsections
(b1) and (b2) of this section, and notwithstanding any other
provision of Article 64 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes to the contrary,
a local government may adopt and enforce ordinances, board of health rules, and
policies restricting or prohibiting smoking that are more restrictive than
State law and that apply in local government buildings, on local government
grounds, in local vehicles, or in public places. A rule or policy adopted
on and after July 1, 2009 pursuant to this subsection by a local board of
health or an entity exercising the powers of a local board of health must be
approved by an ordinance adopted by the Board of County Commissioners of the
county to which the rule applies. The definitions set forth in G.S. 130A‑492
in Part 1A of this Article apply to this section and shall apply to any local
ordinance, rule, or law adopted by a local government under this section.
(b) Repealed by Session Laws 2009‑27, s. 1, effective January 2, 2010.
(b1) A local ordinance or other rules, laws, or policies adopted under this section may not restrict or prohibit smoking in the following places:
(1) A private residence.
(2) A private vehicle.
(3) A tobacco shop if smoke from the business does not migrate into an enclosed area where smoking is prohibited pursuant to this Article. A tobacco shop that begins operation after July 1, 2009, may only allow smoking if it is located in a freestanding structure occupied solely by the tobacco shop and smoke from the shop does not migrate into an enclosed area where smoking is prohibited pursuant to this Article.
(4) All of the premises, facilities, and vehicles owned, operated, or leased by any tobacco products processor or manufacturer, or any tobacco leaf grower, processor, or dealer.
(5) A designated smoking guest room in a lodging establishment. No greater than twenty percent (20%) of a lodging establishment's guest rooms may be designated smoking guest rooms.
(6) A cigar bar if smoke from the cigar bar does not migrate into an enclosed area where smoking is prohibited pursuant to this Article. A cigar bar that begins operation after July 1, 2009, may only allow smoking if it is located in a freestanding structure occupied solely by the cigar bar and smoke from the cigar bar does not migrate into an enclosed area where smoking is prohibited pursuant to this Article. To qualify under this subsection, the cigar bar must satisfactorily report on a quarterly basis to the Department, on a form prescribed by the Department, the revenue generated from the sale of alcoholic beverages and cigars as a percentage of quarterly gross revenue. The Department shall determine whether any additional documentation is required of the cigar bar to authenticate or verify revenue data submitted by the cigar bar. This subdivision shall not apply to any business that is established for the purpose of avoiding compliance with this Article.
(7) A private club.
(8) A motion picture, television, theater, or other live production set. This exemption applies only to the actor or performer portraying the use of tobacco products during the production.
(b1) A local government may adopt and enforce ordinances, board of health rules, and policies restricting or prohibiting smoking on local government grounds as long as the ordinances, rules, or policies are not more restrictive than State law.
(c) Repealed by Session Laws 2009‑27, s. 1, effective January 2, 2010.
(c1) Continuing to smoke in violation of a local ordinance or other rules, laws, or policies adopted under this section constitutes an infraction, and the person committing the infraction may be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00). Conviction of an infraction under this section has no consequence other than payment of a penalty. A person smoking in violation of a local ordinance or other rules, laws, or policies adopted under this section may not be assessed court costs.
(d) Repealed by Session Laws 2009‑27, s. 1, effective January 2, 2010.
(d1) Notwithstanding G.S. 130A‑25 or any other provision of law, a violation of a local ordinance, rule, law, or policy adopted under this section shall not be punishable as a misdemeanor.
(d2) A local government may enforce an ordinance, rule, law, or policy under this section against a person who manages, operates, or controls a public place only as provided in G.S. 130A‑22(h1).
(e) A county ordinance adopted under this section is subject to the provisions of G.S. 153A‑122."
SECTION 2. G.S. 115D‑20.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115D‑20.1. Policy prohibiting tobacco use in community college buildings, grounds, and at community college‑sponsored events.
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Tobacco product" includes cigarettes, cigars, blunts, bidis, pipes, chewing tobacco, snus, snuff, and any other items containing or reasonably resembling tobacco or tobacco products.
(2) "Tobacco use" includes smoking, chewing, dipping, or any other use of tobacco products.
(b) Local community college boards of trustees may adopt, implement, and enforce a written policy prohibiting at all times the use of any tobacco product by any person in community college buildings, in community college facilities, on community college campuses, in vehicles owned, leased, or operated by the local community college, and in or on any other community college property owned, leased, or operated by the local community college. The policy may also prohibit the use of all tobacco products by persons attending a community college‑sponsored event.
(c) The policy adopted by a local community college board of trustees may include the following elements:
(1) Adequate notice of the policy to students, parents, the public, and school personnel.
(2) Posting of signs prohibiting at all times the use of tobacco products by any person in and on community college property.
(3) Requirements that community college personnel develop plans for successful implementation of and compliance with the policy.
(4) Permission for tobacco products to be included in instructional or research activities in community college buildings if the activity is conducted or supervised by the faculty member overseeing the instruction or research and the activity does not include smoking, chewing, or otherwise ingesting the tobacco product.
(d) Nothing in G.S. 130A‑498, G.S. 143‑595
through G.S. 143‑601, or any other section prohibits a local
community college board of trustees from adopting and enforcing a more
restrictive policy on the use of tobacco in community college buildings, in
community college facilities, on community college campuses, or at community
college‑related or community college‑sponsored events, and in or on
other community college property.property, except as provided in
subsection (d1) of this section.
(d1) A local community college board of trustees is prohibited from adopting and enforcing a more restrictive policy on smoking on local community college grounds or at outdoor community college‑related or community college‑sponsored events. For the purpose of this subsection, the terms "grounds" and "smoking" are as defined in G.S. 130A‑492.
(e) The North Carolina Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch and the Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission shall work with local community college boards of trustees to provide assistance with the development and implementation of the policy including providing information regarding smoking cessation and prevention resources."
SECTION 3. This act becomes effective October 1, 2013.
