2022 -- H 7186

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LC003856

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PUBLIC HEALTH AND WORKPLACE SAFETY

ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Corvese, Amore, and Biah

     Date Introduced: January 26, 2022

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 23-20.10 of the General Laws entitled "Public Health and Workplace

Safety Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     23-20.10-15.1. Protection against exposure to secondhand tobacco and marijuana

smoke.

     (a) Any provisions of the general laws, public laws, or regulations promulgated by any

state agency or subdivision thereof, which provisions prohibit smoking or which protects a person

from exposure to secondhand smoke, shall be deemed to be a prohibition against smoking tobacco

or marijuana, or as protection from exposure to secondhand tobacco or marijuana smoke, regardless

of how the smoke is generated.

     (b) As used herein the term "secondhand smoke" refers to smoke that is exhaled by a

smoker, or is given off by burning tobacco or marijuana product or by a device containing tobacco

or marijuana, and which smoke is inhaled by persons in or near the vicinity of the smoker.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC003856

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PUBLIC HEALTH AND WORKPLACE SAFETY

ACT

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     This act would provide that any law or regulation which protects a person from exposure

to secondhand smoke would also provide protection from exposure to secondhand tobacco and

marijuana smoke, regardless of how the smoke was generated.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC003856

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