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A516Assembly2017-2018 SessionSame asS2543

Ban Vaping Indoors

Official title

“Includes vaping in provisions restricting smoking in certain public areas”

Sponsor Linda RosenthalAD-67+26 co-sponsorsAffects Legal
Status
Assembly Floor Calendar
Impact
6/10
Moderate
Outcome
Companion signed

Bill progress

Signed via S2543

What's happening

This bill amends New York's public health law to include vaping and electronic cigarettes in restrictions that currently apply to smoking in public areas.

Why it matters

  1. Extends public health protections. By treating vaping and electronic cigarettes the same as traditional smoking in public spaces, the bill aims to reduce the exposure of non-users—including children and vulnerable populations—to potentially harmful secondhand aerosol emissions.

  2. Closes regulatory loopholes. The bill eliminates ambiguities in the law that previously allowed vaping in areas where smoking was banned, ensuring consistent enforcement and reducing confusion for businesses, property owners, and the public.

  3. Impacts vape businesses and users. While retail electronic cigarette stores are exempt (similar to cigar bars for tobacco), vaping will be prohibited in most indoor and many outdoor public spaces, directly affecting where individuals can use these products and potentially influencing consumer behavior and business operations.

  4. Supports broader tobacco control efforts. Including vaping in smoke-free laws reinforces public messaging about the risks associated with all nicotine products, potentially discouraging youth uptake and supporting community efforts to prevent nicotine addiction.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Ban Vaping Indoors

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

History

  1. Substituted by S2543A
  2. Amended on third reading (t) 516a
  3. Vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
  4. Returned to assembly
  5. Recalled from senate
  6. Referred to health
  7. Delivered to senate
  8. Passed assembly
  9. Advanced to third reading cal.173
  10. Reported
  11. Reported referred to codes
  12. Referred to health

Companion bill

The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.

S2543Senate

Add Vaping to Smoking Ban

Signed by Governor · Sponsor Kemp Hannon

Impact 6 · ModerateSigned into law

Full text

6 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

516--A Cal. No. 173

2017-2018 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

January 9, 2017

Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, DINOWITZ, JAFFEE, ARROYO, HOOPER, ENGLEBRIGHT, FAHY, ZEBROWSKI, MOSLEY, MAGNARELLI, STIRPE, ABINANTI, BRINDISI, CAHILL, ORTIZ, GALEF, GOTTFRIED, SKOUFIS, HUNTER, SEAWRIGHT, WEPRIN, WOERNER, BARRON, HARRIS, GJONAJ, SEPULVEDA,… Show all

Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, DINOWITZ, JAFFEE, ARROYO, HOOPER, ENGLEBRIGHT, FAHY, ZEBROWSKI, MOSLEY, MAGNARELLI, STIRPE, ABINANTI, BRINDISI, CAHILL, ORTIZ, GALEF, GOTTFRIED, SKOUFIS, HUNTER, SEAWRIGHT, WEPRIN, WOERNER, BARRON, HARRIS, GJONAJ, SEPULVEDA, McDONALD -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BRAUNSTEIN, BYRNE, GLICK, LOPEZ, PERRY, RIVERA, STECK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health -- reported and referred to the Committee on Codes -- advanced to a third reading, passed by Assembly and delivered to the Senate, recalled from the Senate, vote reconsidered, bill amended, ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading

AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to including vaping within the provisions of law regulating smoking in certain public areas

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Section 1399-n of the public health law is amended by adding three new subdivisions 9, 10 and 11 to read as follows:

9. "Vaping" means the use of an electronic cigarette.

10. "Electronic cigarette" shall have the same meaning as in subdivision thirteen of section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-aa of this chapter.

11. "Retail electronic cigarette store" means a retail store devoted primarily to the sale of electronic cigarettes, and in which the sale of other products is merely incidental. The sale of such other products shall be considered incidental if such sales generate less than twentyfive percent of the total annual gross sales.

§ 2. Section 1399-q of the public health law, as amended by chapter 13 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:

§ 1399-q. Smoking and vaping restrictions inapplicable. This article shall not apply to:

1. Private homes, private residences and private automobiles;

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD01779-03-7

A. 516--A 2

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

3. Retail tobacco businesses;

4. Membership associations; provided, however, that smoking and vaping 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 and vaping may be permitted in a contiguous area designated for smoking and vaping 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 vaping, and (c) is clearly designated with written signage as a smoking and vaping 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 or electronic cigarettes, 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 and vaping 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 and vaping under this subdivision for more than two days in any calendar year; and

8. Retail electronic cigarette stores, provided however, that such stores may only permit the use of electronic cigarettes.

§ 3. The article heading of article 13-E of the public health law, as added by chapter 244 of the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:

ARTICLE 13-E

REGULATION OF SMOKING AND VAPING IN CERTAIN PUBLIC AREAS

§ 4. Section 1399-o of the public health law, as amended by chapter 389 of the laws of 2011, subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 179 of the laws of 2013, subdivision 3 as added by chapter 449 of the laws of 2012,

A. 516--A 3

and subdivision 4 as added by chapter 100 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:

§ 1399-o. Smoking and vaping restrictions. 1. Smoking and vaping shall not be permitted and no person shall smoke or vape in the following indoor areas:

a. places of employment;

b. bars;

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

d. enclosed indoor areas open to the public containing a swimming pool;

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

f. ticketing, boarding and waiting areas in public transportation terminals;

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

h. 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;

i. 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;

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

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

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

m. all public and private colleges, universities and other educational and vocational institutions, including dormitories, residence halls, and other group residential facilities that are owned or operated by such colleges, universities and other educational and vocational institutions, except that these restrictions shall not apply in any off-campus residential unit occupied by a person who is not enrolled as an undergraduate student in such college, university or other educational or vocational institution;

n. 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 and vaping 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 and vaping rooms for patients of such facilities or programs;

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

p. indoor arenas;

q. zoos; and

r. bingo facilities.

A. 516--A 4

2. Smoking and vaping shall not be permitted and no person shall smoke or vape in the following outdoor areas:

a. ticketing, boarding or platform areas of railroad stations operated by the metropolitan transportation authority or its subsidiaries.

b. on the grounds of general hospitals and residential health care facilities as defined in article twenty-eight of this chapter, within fifteen feet of a building entrance or exit or within fifteen feet of the entrance to or exit from the grounds of any such general hospital or residential health care facility. This subdivision shall not prohibit smoking and vaping by a patient or a visitor or guest of a patient of a residential health care facility in a separate area on the grounds designated as a smoking and vaping area by the residential health care facility, provided such designated smoking and vaping area is not within thirty feet of any building structure (other than a non-residential structure wholly contained within the designated smoking and vaping area), including any overhang, canopy, awning, entrance, exit, window, intake or exhaust.

3. Smoking and vaping shall not be permitted and no person shall smoke or vape within one hundred feet of the entrances, exits or outdoor areas of any public or private elementary or secondary schools; provided, however, that the provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to smoking or vaping in a residence, or within the real property boundary lines of such residential real property. The provisions of section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-p of this article shall not apply to this subdivision.

4. Smoking and vaping shall not be permitted and no person shall smoke or vape within one hundred feet of the entrances, exits or outdoor areas of any after-school program licensed or registered pursuant to section three hundred ninety of the social services law; provided, however, that the provisions of this subdivision shall only apply on those days and during those hours in which such after-school programs are operational; and provided, further, that the provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to smoking or vaping in a residence, or within the real property boundary lines of such residential real property.

§ 5. Section 1399-o-1 of the public health law, as added by chapter 102 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:

§ 1399-o-1. Smoking and vaping restrictions; certain outdoor areas. 1. Smoking and vaping shall not be permitted and no person shall smoke or vape during the hours between sunrise and sunset, when one or more persons under the age of twelve are present at any playground. For the purposes of this section, the term "playground" means an improved area designed, equipped, and set aside for play of six or more children which is not intended for use as an athletic playing field or athletic court, and shall include any play equipment, surfacing, fencing, signs, internal pathways, internal land forms, vegetation, and related structures. Playgrounds or playground equipment constructed upon one, two and threefamily residential real property are exempt from the requirements of this section. This section shall not apply to any playground located within the city of New York.

2. No police officer, peace officer, regulatory officer or law enforcement official may arrest, ticket, stop or question any person based solely or in part on an alleged violation of subdivision one of this section, nor may an alleged violation of subdivision one of this section support probable cause to conduct any search or limited search of any person or his or her immediate surroundings.

A. 516--A 5

§ 6. Section 1399-p of the public health law, as added by chapter 244 of the laws of 1989, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 13 of the laws of 2003, and subdivision 3 as added by chapter 100 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:

§ 1399-p. Posting of signs. 1. "Smoking" or "No Smoking" signs, or "Vaping" or "No Vaping" 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] and vaping are 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 and vaping 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] and vaping are allowed.

3. The provisions of this section shall apply to after-school programs that are subject to the provisions of subdivision four of section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-o of this article, provided that signs posted pursuant to this subdivision shall specify the specific time period during which smoking and vaping shall be prohibited.

§ 7. Section 1399-r of the public health law, as added by chapter 244 of the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:

§ 1399-r. General provisions. 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 and nonvaping 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.

Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.

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