CONNECTICUT’S SMOKE-FREE AIR LAW

The following information on Senate Bill 908: AAC Secondhand Smoke in Work Places was obtained from the Connecticut General Assembly (www.cga.ct.gov/2003/act/Pa/2003PA-00045-R00SB-00908-PA.htm) and "Statewide Smoking Ban: OLR Research Report" posted on the CGA website: (http://cga.ct.gov/2003/rpt/2003-R-0466.htm) The bill has the following provisions, effective April 1, 2004:

• Bans smoking in all restaurants, cafés and taverns (bars) after April 1, 2004.
• Private clubs (i.e. VFW halls, Knights of Columbus, etc.) with liquor permits as of May 1, 2003 are exempt from this bill.
• Tobacco bars, as defined as an establishment with permit pursuant to Chapter 545 (liquor permits) that made at least 10% of its gross annual income on tobacco products and have not changed their size or location since December 31, 2002 are exempt from the bill.
• Bans smoking in establishments with the following liquor permits: university, hotel, resort, restaurant, juice bar, railroad, airline, coliseum, special sporting facility, nonprofit theater, nonprofit public museum, bowling establishment, racquetball establishment, and airport restaurant.
• Bans smoking in any business (other than food establishments) with 5 or more employees, except that there may be a designated smoking room for employees.
• Businesses with fewer than 5 employees must provide a smoke free environment upon request from an employee.
• Continues the ban on smoking in retail food stores, in hospitals, buildings owned or operated by the state or any political subdivision of the state, school buildings during school hours, elevators and dorms in public institutions of higher education. Adds ban to private institutions of higher education.
• Exemptions: correctional facilities, smoking areas of psychiatric facilities, public housing projects, classrooms where smoking is part of medical or scientific research, smoking rooms provided by employers, any area of a business that is engaged in the testing or development of tobacco or tobacco products, outside seating in a restaurant where at least 75% is non smoking, outside seating that is not used on a permanent basis (ie set up for a special event or occasion.)

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SOURCES: "Senate Bill No. 908 (Public Act No. 03-45): An Act Concerning Secondhand Smoke in Work Places" "Statewide Smoking Ban: OLR Research Report" posted on the State of Connecticut General Assembly website
PREPARED BY: 211/pt
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: October2011