The Clean Indoor Air Act (Public Health Law Section 1399-o) prohibits smoking in public and work places to protect employees and the public from secondhand smoke. The law went into effect on July 24, 2003, making New York the third state in the nation to pass a comprehensive smokefree workplace law.
- Secondhand Tobacco Smoke
- Businesses and Workplaces for which the law applies
- Going Smokefree
- Compliance and enforcement of the law
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- MORE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ-2)
- Reader Inquiries Answered
- Stats from the NYS Adult Tobacco Survey
- Downloads
- Text of the law
- Press Releases
- Support for the law
- Filtration/ ventilation amendment
- Tompkins County Code regarding Smoking and Tobacco Sales
Tompkins County Reality Check members unveil
"Clean Air" sign on Rt 13 at Dey St. in Ithaca, May 19,
2003. Photo by Amy Rand.
Secondhand Tobacco Smoke
- What is Secondhand Smoke (SHS)?
- The health consequences of secondhand smoke
- SHS puts employees at higher risk for disease and disability
Businesses and Workplaces for which the law applies
- Where smoking is not permitted
- Where smoking is permitted
- Additional places of employment covered
- Special circumstances
Going Smokefree
- A checklist of what to do at your workplace so you're Ready to Go Smokefree.
- Link to sample Workplace Smoking Policy
Compliance and enforcement of the law
- Management enforcement
- employee or public enforcement
- non-compliance
- how to file a complaint
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is secondhand smoke?
- How can I file a complaint?
- What are the penalties?
- Do I need to provide a smoking break room for my employees?
- Can I smoke in my private office in a commercial work establishment?
- What organizations/businesses does this law not apply to?
MORE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ-2)
- 22 questions answered
Reader Inquiries Answered
- Selected questions from visitors to this site
Stats from the NYS Adult Tobacco Survey (June-Sept. 2003)
- Support for the state's expanded Clean Indoor Air Act (CIAA)
- Changes in bar patronage patterns resulting from implementation of the CIAA
Downloads
- Guide for Workplaces 3-panel brochure (pdf: 178kb)
- Guide for Restaurants and Bars 3-panel brochure (pdf: 174kb)
- Text of the CIAA (PDF and MS Word files)
Press releases
- NYS Senate (March 26, 2003)
- NYS Assembly (March 26, 2003)
- Independent Evaluation: State's Anti-Smoking Efforts Succeeding (Nov. 24, 2004)