House Bill No. 255

Introduced By lawson

A Bill for an Act entitled: "An Act authorizing rather than requiring smoking and nonsmoking areas in certain offices and work areas maintained by local governments; establishing that the governing body of a political subdivision rather than the manager or person in charge of the office or work area is authorized to establish tobacco-free or smoke-free buildings or smoking and nonsmoking areas; amending section

50-40-201, MCA; and providing an effective date."

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Montana:

Section 1.  Section 50-40-201, MCA, is amended to read:

"50-40-201.   Reservation of smoking and nonsmoking areas in work areas in local government buildings. (1) In offices and work areas in buildings maintained by a political subdivision, except a school or community college facility designated as tobacco-free by the board of trustees of the school district or community college district, in which seven or more employees of the political subdivision are employed, the manager or person in charge of the work area shall the governing body of the political subdivision may arrange nonsmoking and smoking areas in a convenient area.

(2) The governing body of a political subdivision may designate any building under its jurisdiction as tobacco-free or smoke-free.

(3) Restrictions authorized by this section and imposed by the governing body apply uniformly to employees of the political subdivision and the public."

NEW SECTION. Section 2.  Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 1997.

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