What Does the Law Say?
The new law, which originated as Assembly Bill 846 (AB 846), amends California Government Code Sections 7596-7598, to prohibit smoking within 20 feet of a main entrance, exit, and operable window of all public buildings (buildings owned and occupied, or leased and occupied by the state, county, or city) as well as buildings on the campuses of the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), and California community colleges, effective January 1, 2004. For the law to be effective, a sign must be posted describing the no smoking prohibition.

What is a "Public" Building?
Section 7596(a) of the law defines a pubic building as "...a building owned and occupied, or leased and occupied by the state, a county, a city, a city and county, or a California community college district." The law applies to all state, county, and city government buildings. The new law does NOT apply to privately owned buildings unless they are leased or occupied by a state, county, or city agency.

"No Smoking" Sign for posting (MS Word)

Riverside County Department of Public Health Tobacco Control Project (951) 358-4977 and (760) 778-2222
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