Bill Text: NJ S1629 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits smoking in certain outdoor public places.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-17 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [S1629 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-S1629-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits smoking in certain outdoor public places.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning smoking in certain outdoor public places and amending the title and body of P.L.2005, c.383.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Title of P.L.2005, c.383 is amended to read as follows:
Title. An Act concerning smoking in indoor and outdoor public places and workplaces and revising parts of statutory law.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.383, Title)
2. Section 2 of P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-56) is amended to read as follows:
2. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the State and the nation;
b. Tobacco smoke constitutes a substantial health hazard to the nonsmoking majority of the public;
c. Electronic smoking devices have not been approved as to safety and efficacy by the federal Food and Drug Administration, and their use may pose a health risk to persons exposed to their smoke or vapor because of a known irritant contained therein and other substances that may, upon evaluation by that agency, be identified as potentially toxic to those inhaling the smoke or vapor;
d. The separation of smoking and nonsmoking areas in indoor public places and workplaces does not eliminate the hazard to nonsmokers if these areas share a common ventilation system; and
e. The prohibition of smoking in outdoor places frequented by the public, such as parks, beaches, sports facilities, amusement parks, and other recreation facilities, would protect more people from the dangers of environmental tobacco smoke and have the effect of reducing litter and improving fire safety; and
[e.] f. Therefore, subject to certain specified exceptions, it is clearly in the public interest to prohibit the smoking of tobacco products and the use of electronic smoking devices in all enclosed indoor places of public access and workplaces and in those outdoor public places designated under the laws of this State.
(cf: P.L.2009, c.182, s.1)
3. Section 3 of P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-57) is amended to read as follows:
3. As used in this act:
"Bar" means a business establishment or any portion of a nonprofit entity, which is devoted to the selling and serving of alcoholic beverages for consumption by the public, guests, patrons or members on the premises and in which the serving of food, if served at all, is only incidental to the sale or consumption of such beverages.
"Cigar bar" means any bar, or area within a bar, designated specifically for the smoking of tobacco products, purchased on the premises or elsewhere; except that a cigar bar that is in an area within a bar shall be an area enclosed by solid walls or windows, a ceiling and a solid door and equipped with a ventilation system which is separately exhausted from the nonsmoking areas of the bar so that air from the smoking area is not recirculated to the nonsmoking areas and smoke is not backstreamed into the nonsmoking areas.
"Cigar lounge" means any establishment, or area within an establishment, designated specifically for the smoking of tobacco products, purchased on the premises or elsewhere; except that a cigar lounge that is in an area within an establishment shall be an area enclosed by solid walls or windows, a ceiling and a solid door and equipped with a ventilation system which is separately exhausted from the nonsmoking areas of the establishment so that air from the smoking area is not recirculated to the nonsmoking areas and smoke is not backstreamed into the nonsmoking areas.
"Electronic smoking device" means an electronic device that can be used to deliver nicotine or other substances to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to, an electronic cigarette, cigar, cigarillo, or pipe.
"Indoor public place" means a structurally enclosed place of business, commerce or other service-related activity, whether publicly or privately owned or operated on a for-profit or nonprofit basis, which is generally accessible to the public, including, but not limited to: a commercial or other office building; office or building owned, leased or rented by the State or by a county or municipal government; public and nonpublic elementary or secondary school building; board of education building; theater or concert hall; public library; museum or art gallery; bar; restaurant or other establishment where the principal business is the sale of food for consumption on the premises, including the bar area of the establishment; garage or parking facility; any public conveyance operated on land or water, or in the air, and passenger waiting rooms and platform areas in any stations or terminals thereof; health care facility licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.); patient waiting room of the office of a health care provider licensed pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes; child care center licensed pursuant to P.L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-1 et seq.); race track facility; facility used for the holding of sporting events; ambulatory recreational facility; shopping mall or retail store; hotel, motel or other lodging establishment; apartment building lobby or other public area in an otherwise private building; or a passenger elevator in a building other than a single-family dwelling.
"Outdoor public place" means an outdoor area within any of the following places, whether publicly or privately owned or operated on a for-profit or nonprofit basis: a race track facility, facility used for the holding of sporting events, ambulatory recreational facility, or amusement park. "Outdoor public place" also means any State, county, or municipal-owned or leased park, forest, beach, recreational area, marina, historic site, burial site, natural area, or other State-owned or leased land, water, or facility administered by the Department of Environmental Protection, but not including a wildlife management area or reservoir land. An outdoor public place does not include a parking lot that is adjacent to, but not part of, its premises.
"Person having control of an indoor public place or workplace or an outdoor public place" means the owner or operator of a commercial or other office building or other indoor public place from whom a workplace or space within the building or indoor public place is leased, or the person having supervisory authority over an outdoor public place or the person's designee, as applicable.
"Smoking" means the burning of, inhaling from, exhaling the smoke from, or the possession of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or any other matter or substance which contains tobacco or any other matter that can be smoked, or the inhaling or exhaling of smoke or vapor from an electronic smoking device.
"Tobacco retail establishment" means an establishment in which at least 51% of retail business is the sale of tobacco products and accessories, and in which the sale of other products is merely incidental.
"Workplace" means a structurally enclosed location or portion thereof at which a person performs any type of service or labor.
(cf: P.L.2009, c.182, s.2)
4. Section 4 of P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-58) is amended to read as follows:
4. a. Smoking is prohibited in an indoor public place or workplace or in an outdoor public place, except as otherwise provided in this act.
b. Smoking is prohibited in any area of any building of, or on the grounds of, any public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school, regardless of whether the area is an indoor public place or is outdoors.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.383, s.4)
5. Section 7 of P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-61) is amended to read as follows:
7. a. The person having control of an indoor public place or workplace or an outdoor public place shall place in every public entrance to the indoor public place or workplace or the outdoor public place a sign, which shall be located so as to be clearly visible to the public and shall contain letters or a symbol which contrast in color with the sign, indicating that smoking is prohibited therein, except in such designated areas as provided pursuant to this act. The sign shall also indicate that violators are subject to a fine. The person having control of the indoor public place or workplace or the outdoor public place shall post a sign stating "Smoking Permitted" in letters at least one inch in height or marked by the international symbol for "Smoking Permitted" in those areas where smoking is permitted.
b. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prevent a lessee of the workplace, or space within the building or indoor public place, from enforcing the smoking restrictions imposed by the owner or operator of a commercial or other office building or other indoor public place.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.383, s.7)
6. Section 8 of P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-62) is amended to read as follows:
8. a. The person having control of an indoor public place or workplace or an outdoor public place shall order any person smoking in violation of this act to comply with the provisions of this act. A person, after being so ordered, who smokes in violation of this act is subject to a fine of not less than $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense. A penalty shall be recovered in accordance with the provisions of subsections c. and d. of this section.
b. The Department of Health and Senior Services or the local board of health or the board, body, or officers exercising the functions of the local board of health according to law, upon written complaint or having reason to suspect that an indoor public place or workplace or an outdoor public place covered by the provisions of this act is or may be in violation of the provisions of this act, shall, by written notification, advise the person having control of the place accordingly and order appropriate action to be taken. A person receiving that notice who fails or refuses to comply with the order is subject to a fine of not less than $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense. In addition to the penalty provided herein, the court may order immediate compliance with the provisions of this act.
c. A penalty recovered under the provisions of this act shall be recovered by and in the name of the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services or by and in the name of the local board of health. When the plaintiff is the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, the penalty recovered shall be paid by the commissioner into the treasury of the State. When the plaintiff is a local board of health, the penalty recovered shall be paid by the local board into the treasury of the municipality where the violation occurred.
d. A municipal court shall have jurisdiction over proceedings to enforce and collect any penalty imposed because of a violation of this act if the violation has occurred within the territorial jurisdiction of the court. The proceedings shall be summary and in accordance with the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). Process shall be in the nature of a summons or warrant and shall issue only at the suit of the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, or the local board of health, as the case may be, as plaintiff.
e. The penalties provided in subsections a. and b. of this section shall be the only civil remedy for a violation of this act, and there shall be no private right of action against a party for failure to comply with the provisions of this act.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.383, s.8)
7. Section 9 of P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-63) is amended to read as follows:
9. The provisions of this act shall supersede any other statute, municipal ordinance, and rule or regulation adopted pursuant to law concerning smoking in an indoor public place or workplace or in an outdoor public place, except where smoking is prohibited by municipal ordinance under authority of R.S.40:48-1 or 40:48-2, or by any other statute or regulation adopted pursuant to law for purposes of protecting life and property from fire or protecting public health, and except for those provisions of a municipal ordinance which provide restrictions on or prohibitions against smoking equivalent to, or greater than, those provided under this act.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.383, s.9)
8. Section 10 of P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-64) is amended to read as follows:
10. The [Commissioner] Commissioners of Health and Senior Services and Environmental Protection, in consultation with each other and pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.383, s.10)
9. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after enactment, but the Commissioners of Health and Senior Services and Environmental Protection may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill extends the provisions of the "New Jersey Smoke Free Air Act," P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-55 et seq.), which prohibit smoking in most indoor public places and workplaces, to apply to certain outdoor public places.
The bill defines an "outdoor public place" that is subject to the smoking prohibition to: (1)include an outdoor area within any of the following places, whether publicly or privately owned or operated on a for-profit or nonprofit basis: a race track facility, facility used for the holding of sporting events, ambulatory recreational facility, or amusement park; (2) include any State, county, or municipal-owned or leased park, forest, beach, recreational area, marina, historic site, burial site, natural area, or other State-owned or leased land, water, or facility administered by the Department of Environmental Protection, but not including a wildlife management area or reservoir land; and (3) exclude any parking lot that is adjacent to, but not part of the premises of, an outdoor public place is excluded from the smoking prohibition.
The penalties that currently apply to a person who smokes in an indoor public place or workplace, or a person having control of the place who fails to comply with an order to enforce the smoking prohibition, in violation of the "New Jersey Smoke Free Air Act," would apply to a comparable violation of this bill. These include a fine of not less than $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense. (As currently provided in the statute, a penalty recovered through enforcement would be paid to the State Treasury if the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services is the plaintiff, and to the applicable municipal treasury if the local board of health is the plaintiff.)
The Commissioners of Health and Senior Services and Environmental Protection are to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this bill in consultation with each other.
The bill takes effect on the 180th day after enactment, but the two commissioners are authorized to take administrative action in advance as necessary for implementation.
