Smoke-Free Workplace Law

For purposes of this article:

1. "Bar" means any area, including outdoor seating areas, devoted to the sale and service of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption and where the service of food is only incidental to the consumption of such beverages.

2. "Employer" means any person, partnership, association, limited liability company, corporation or nonprofit entity which employs one or more persons, including the legislative, executive and judicial branches of state government and any political subdivision of the state.

3. "Food service establishment" means any area, including outdoor seating areas, or portion thereof in which the business is the sale of food for on-premises consumption.

4. "Membership association" means a not-for-profit entity which has been created or organized for a charitable, philanthropic, educational, political, social or other similar purpose.

5. "Place of employment" means any indoor area or portion thereof under the control of an employer in which employees of the employer perform services, and shall include, but not be limited to, offices, school grounds, retail stores, banquet facilities, theaters, food stores, banks, financial institutions, factories, warehouses, employee cafeterias, lounges, auditoriums, gymnasiums, restrooms, elevators, hallways, museums, libraries, bowling establishments, employee medical facilities, rooms or areas containing photocopying equipment or other office equipment used in common, and company vehicles.

6. "School grounds" means any building, structure, and surrounding outdoor grounds contained within a public or private pre-school, nursery school, elementary or secondary school's legally defined property boundaries as registered in a county clerk's office, and any vehicles used to transport children or school personnel.

7. "Retail tobacco business" means a sole proprietorship, limited liability company, corporation, partnership or other enterprise in which the primary activity is the retail sale of tobacco products and accessories, and in which the sale of other products is merely incidental.

8. "Smoking" means the burning of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe or any other matter or substance which contains tobacco.

• < BACK
• ^TOP

Smoking shall not be permitted and no person shall smoke in the following indoor areas:

1. Places of employment;

2. Bars;

3. Food service establishments, except as provided in subdivision six of section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-q of this article;

4. Enclosed indoor areas open to the public containing a swimming pool;

5. public means of mass transportation, including subways, underground subway stations, and when occupied by passengers, buses, vans, taxicabs and limousines;

6. Ticketing, boarding and waiting areas in public transportation terminals;

7. Youth centers and facilities for detention as defined in sections five hundred twenty-seven-a and five hundred three of the executive law;

8. Any facility that provides child care services as defined in section four hundred ten-p of the social services law, provided that such services provided in a private home are excluded from this subdivision when children enrolled in such day care are not present;

9. Child day care centers as defined in section three hundred ninety of the social services law and child day care centers licensed by the city of New York;

10. Group homes for children as defined in section three hundred seventy-one of the social services law;

11. Public institutions for children as defined in section three hundred seventy-one of the social services law;

12. Residential treatment facilities for children and youth as defined in section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law;

13. All public and private colleges, universities and other educational and vocational institutions;

14. General hospitals and residential health care facilities as defined in article twenty-eight of this chapter, and other health care facilities licensed by the state in which persons reside; provided, however, that the provisions of this subdivision shall not prohibit smoking by patients in separate enclosed rooms of residential health care facilities, adult care facilities established or certified under title two of article seven of the social services law, community mental health residences established under section 41.44 of the mental hygiene law, or facilities where day treatment programs are provided, which are designated as smoking rooms for patients of such facilities or programs;

15. Commercial establishments used for the purpose of carrying on or exercising any trade, profession, vocation or charitable activity;

16. Indoor arenas;

17. Zoos; and

18. Bingo facilities.

• < BACK
• ^TOP

1. "Smoking" or "No Smoking" signs, or the international "No Smoking" symbol, which consists of a pictorial representation of a burning cigarette enclosed in a circle with a bar across it, shall be prominently posted and properly maintained where smoking is regulated by this article, by the owner, operator, manager or other person having control of such area.

2. The owner, operator or manager of a hotel or motel that chooses to develop and implement a smoking policy for rooms rented to guests shall post a notice at the reception area of the establishment as to the availability, upon request, of rooms in which no smoking is allowed.

This article shall not apply to:

1. Private homes, private residences and private automobiles;

2. A hotel or motel room rented to one or more guests;

3. Retail tobacco businesses;

4. Membership associations; provided, however, that smoking shall only be allowed in membership associations in which all of the duties with respect to the operation of such association, including, but not limited to, the preparation of food and beverages, the service of food and beverages, reception and secretarial work, and the security services of the membership association are performed by members of such membership association who do not receive compensation of any kind from the membership association or any other entity for the performance of such duties;

5. Cigar bars that, in the calendar year ending December thirty-first, two thousand two, generated ten percent or more of its total annual gross income from the on-site sale of tobacco products and the rental of on-site humidors, not including any sales from vending machines, and is registered with the appropriate enforcement officer, as defined in subdivision one of section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-t of this article. Such registration shall remain in effect for one year and shall be renewable only if: (a) in the preceding calendar year, the cigar bar generated ten percent or more of its total annual gross income from the on-site sale of tobacco products and the rental of on-site humidors, and (b) the cigar bar has not expanded its size or changed its location from its size or location since December thirty-first, two thousand two;

6. Outdoor dining areas of food service establishments with no roof or other ceiling enclosure; provided, however, that smoking may be permitted in a contiguous area designated for smoking so long as such area: (a) constitutes no more than twenty-five percent of the outdoor seating capacity of such food service establishment, (b) is at least three feet away from the outdoor area of such food service establishment not designated for smoking, and (c) is clearly designated with written signage as a smoking area; and

7. Enclosed rooms in food service establishments, bars, catering halls, convention halls, hotel and motel conference rooms, and other such similar facilities during the time such enclosed areas or rooms are being used exclusively for functions where the public is invited for the primary purpose of promoting and sampling tobacco products, and the service of food and drink is incidental to such purpose, provided that the sponsor or organizer gives notice in any promotional material or advertisements that smoking will not be restricted, and prominently posts notice at the entrance of the facility and has provided notice of such function to the appropriate enforcement officer, as defined in subdivision one of section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-t of this article, at least two weeks prior to such function. The enforcement officer shall keep a record of all tobacco sampling events, and such record shall be made available for public inspection. No such facility shall permit smoking under this subdivision for more than two days in any calendar year.

• < BACK
• ^TOP

1. Nothing in this article shall be construed to deny the owner, operator or manager of a place covered by this article the right to designate the entire place, or any part thereof, as a nonsmoking area.

2. The provisions of this article shall apply to the legislative, executive and judicial branches of state government and any political subdivision of the state.

3. Smoking may not be permitted where prohibited by any other law, rule, or regulation of any state agency or any political subdivision of the state. Nothing herein shall be construed to restrict the power of any county, city, town, or village to adopt and enforce additional local law, ordinances, or regulations which comply with at least the minimum applicable standards set forth in this article.

1. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, limited liability company, corporation or other entity that owns, manages, operates or otherwise controls the use of an area in which smoking is prohibited or restricted pursuant to section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-o of this article to fail to comply with the provisions of this article. For violations of this subdivision, it shall be an affirmative defense that during the relevant time period actual control of the area was not exercised by the respondent, but rather by a lessee, the sublessee or any other person. To establish an affirmative defense, the respondent shall submit an affidavit and may submit any other relevant proof indicating that the respondent did not exercise actual control of said area during the relevant time period. Such affidavit and other proof shall be mailed by certified mail to the appropriate enforcement officer within thirty days of receipt of such notice of violation.

2. It shall be unlawful for an employer whose place of employment is subject to subdivision one of section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-o of this article to fail to comply with the provisions of such subdivision. For violations of such subdivision, it shall be an affirmative defense that the employer has made good faith efforts to ensure that employees comply with the provisions of this article.

3. It shall be unlawful for any person to smoke in any area where smoking is prohibited or restricted under section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-o of this article.

1. For the purpose of this article the term "enforcement officer" shall mean the board of health of a county or part county health district established pursuant to title three of article three of this chapter, or in the absence thereof, an officer of a county designated for such purpose by resolution of the elected county legislature or board of supervisors adopted within sixty days after the effective date of this article. Any such designation shall be filed with the commissioner within thirty days after adoption. If no such designation is made, the county will be deemed to have designated the department as its enforcement officer. Any county that does not designate an enforcement officer during the time period specified above may do so at any time, thereafter, such designation will be effective thirty days after it is filed with the commissioner. The enforcement officer shall have sole jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this article on a county-wide basis pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner. In a city with a population of more than one million the enforcement officer shall be the department of health and mental hygiene of such city which shall have sole jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this article in such city.

2. If the enforcement officer determines after a hearing that a violation of this article has occurred, a civil penalty may be imposed by the enforcement officer pursuant to section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-v of this article. When the enforcement officer is the commissioner, the hearing shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of section twelve-a of this chapter. When the enforcement officer is a board of health or in a city with a population of more than one million, the department of health and mental hygiene, or an officer designated to enforce the provisions of this article, the hearing shall be conducted pursuant to procedures set forth in the county sanitary code, or health code of such city, or in the absence thereof, pursuant to procedures established by the elected county legislature or board of supervisors. No other penalty, fine or sanction may be imposed, provided that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit an enforcement officer from commencing a proceeding for injunctive relief to compel compliance with this article.

3. Any person who desires to register a complaint under this article may do so with the appropriate enforcement officer.

4. The owner, manager, operator or other person having control of any area subject to the provisions of this article, shall inform, or shall designate an agent who shall be responsible for informing individuals smoking in an area in which smoking is not permitted that they are in violation of this article.

5. Any person aggrieved by the decision of an enforcement officer other than the commissioner may appeal to the commissioner to review such decision within thirty days of such decision. The decision of any enforcement officer shall be reviewable pursuant to article seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules.

6. The enforcement officer, subsequent to any appeal having been finally determined, may bring an action to recover the civil penalty provided in section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-v of this article in any court of competent jurisdiction.

7. An enforcement officer who discovers a retail dealer who or which does not display a retail dealer certificate of license or registration from the department of taxation and finance issued pursuant to section four hundred eighty-a of the tax law shall notify the commissioner of taxation and finance within thirty days of the name and address of any such establishment so that the commissioner of taxation and finance can take appropriate action.

• < BACK
• ^TOP

1. The enforcement officer may grant a waiver from the application of a specific provision of this article, provided that prior to the granting of any such waiver the applicant for a waiver shall establish that:
(a) Compliance with a specific provision of this article would cause undue financial hardship; or
(b) Other factors exist which would render compliance unreasonable.

2. Every waiver granted shall be subject to such conditions or restrictions as may be necessary to minimize the adverse effects of the waiver upon persons subject to an involuntary exposure to second-hand smoke and to ensure that the waiver is consistent with the general purpose of this article.

The commissioner may impose a civil penalty for a violation of this article in an amount not to exceed that set forth in subdivision one of section twelve of this chapter. Any other enforcement officer may impose a civil penalty for a violation of this article in an amount not to exceed that set forth in paragraph f of subdivision one of section three hundred nine of this chapter.

1. Any person who violates, disobeys or disregards any term or provision of this chapter or of any lawful notice, order or regulation pursuant thereto for which a civil penalty is not otherwise expressly prescribed by law, shall be liable to the people of the state for a civil penalty of not to exceed two thousand dollars for every such violation.

2. The penalty provided for in subdivision one of this section may be recovered by an action brought by the commissioner in any court of competent jurisdiction.

3. Nothing in this section contained shall be construed to alter or repeal any existing provision of law declaring such violations or any of them to be misdemeanors or felonies or prescribing the penalty therefore.

4. Such civil penalty may be released or compromised by the commissioner before the matter has been referred to the attorney general, and where such matter has been referred to the attorney general, any such penalty may be released or compromised and any action commenced to recover the same may be settled and discontinued by the attorney general with the consent of the commissioner.

5. It shall be the duty of the attorney general upon the request of the commissioner to bring an action for an injunction against any person who violates, disobeys or disregards any term or provision of this chapter or of any lawful notice, order or regulation pursuant thereto; provided, however, that the commissioner shall furnish the attorney general with such material, evidentiary matter or proof as may be requested by the attorney general for the prosecution of such an action.

6. It is the purpose of this section to provide additional and cumulative remedies, and nothing herein contained shall abridge or alter rights of action or remedies now or hereafter existing, nor shall any provision of this section, nor any action done by virtue of this section, be construed as stopping the state, persons or municipalities in the exercising of their respective rights to suppress nuisances or to prevent or abate pollution.]

• < BACK
• ^TOP

An employer, administrator, manager, owner or operator of any indoor area, food service establishment, or place of employment regulated by this article who complies or fails to comply with the provisions of this article shall not be subject to any legal liability or action solely as a result of such compliance or noncompliance except as provided in section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-v of this article. Nothing in any other section of this article shall be construed to create, impair, alter, limit, modify, enlarge, abrogate or restrict any theory of liability upon which any person may be held liable to any other person for exposure to smoke.

The commissioner shall not promulgate any rules or regulations to effectuate the provisions of section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-n, subdivision six of section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-o or subdivision one of section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-p of this article. The commissioner shall not promulgate any rules or regulations that create, limit or enlarge any smoking restrictions.