2023 -- H 5237

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LC000374

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

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

ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, McGaw, Felix, Hull, Ajello, Donovan, Kislak,
Morales, Speakman, and Carson

     Date Introduced: January 25, 2023

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 23-20.10-6.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-20.10 entitled

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"Public Health and Workplace Safety Act" is hereby repealed.

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     23-20.10-6.1. Pari mutual facilities.

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     (a) Any pari mutual facility established under chapter 3.1 or 7 of title 41 or any pari mutual

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licensee under chapter 61.2 of title 42 shall provide designated smoking and nonsmoking gaming

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areas in their facilities.

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     (b) The designated nonsmoking gaming area shall be physically separated from any

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smoking area and shall be required to have separate and distinct ventilation systems so as to prohibit

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the migration of smoke into the nonsmoking area.

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     (c) Except as provided for in paragraph (d), any bar or restaurant located in a pari mutual

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facility shall be nonsmoking and be physically separate from any smoking area and shall have a

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separate ventilation system so as to prohibit the migration of smoke into the restaurant.

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     (d) The prohibitions of this chapter shall not apply to any bar which is presently in

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existence, located in, and not physically separated from a designated smoking area.

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     (e) Any licensee of a pari mutual facility shall promulgate rules and regulations to allow

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their employees the right to work in a smoke free environment. These rules shall include, but not

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be limited to, provisions on the right to opt out of working in a smoking area and a provision that

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no adverse impact or action could take place against the employee if they request to opt out of a

 

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smoking area. The rules promulgated by the licensee shall be filed with the lottery commission

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with copies to the general assembly and the department of health no later than March 1, 2005.

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     (f) Commencing January 1, 2005, any pari mutual licensee shall file an annual report with

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the lottery commission with copies to the general assembly and department of health detailing

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smoke mitigation efforts undertaken by the licensee during the previous year and plans for the

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upcoming year. The licensee shall be required to monitor air quality with current appropriate

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technology. A professional HVAC engineer (or other appropriate professional) shall certify the

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monitoring process and results. The results of the monitoring process shall be included in the annual

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report.

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     (g) Any enactment relating to the provisions of this section on pari mutual facilities or

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licensees shall be by statute as enacted by the general assembly, provided however that the general

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assembly may by statute delegate such authority to the cities and towns.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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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 repeal the exemption granted to pari mutual facilities and casinos from the

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smoke free workplace requirement contained in the Public Health and Workplace Safety Act.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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