Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 270 § 22

Current through Chapters 1 to 249 and Chapters 253 to 255 of the 2024 Legislative Session

Section 270:22 - Smoking in public places

(a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings, unless the context requires otherwise:

"Business agent", an individual who has been designated by the owner or operator of any establishment to be the manager or otherwise in charge of the establishment.

"Compensation", money, gratuity, privilege, or benefit received from an employer in return for work performed or services rendered.

"Customer service area", an area of the workplace that a business invitee may access.

"Employee", an individual or person who performs a service for compensation for an employer at the employer's workplace, including a contract employee, temporary employee, and independent contractor who performs a service in the employer's workplace for more than a de minimis amount of time.

"Employer", an individual, person, partnership, association, corporation, trust, organization, school, college, university or other educational institution or other legal entity, whether public, quasi-public, private, or non-profit which uses the services of 1 or more employees at 1 or more workplaces, at any 1 time, including the commonwealth or its agencies, authorities or political subdivisions.

"Enclosed", a space bounded by walls, with or without windows or fenestrations, continuous from floor to ceiling and enclosed by 1 or more doors, including but not limited to an office, function room or hallway.

"Licensed marijuana social consumption establishment", an establishment that is, at a minimum: (i) licensed by the Massachusetts cannabis control commission established under section 76 of chapter 10 for sale of marijuana and marijuana products for consumption on the premises pursuant to regulations promulgated pursuant to section 4 of chapter 94G; and (ii) authorized to allow social consumption of cannabis on the premises, where required, by the appropriate authority in the city or town in which the establishment is located; provided however, that tobacco shall not be sold, smoked, vaporized or consumed at said establishment.

"Lodging home", a dwelling or part thereof which contains 1 or more rooming units in which space is let or sublet for compensation by the owner or operator to 4 or more persons. The residential portion of boarding houses, rooming houses, dormitories, and other similar dwelling places are included in this definition. Hospitals, sanitariums, jails, houses of correction, homeless shelters, and assisted living homes are not included in this definition.

"Membership association", a not-for-profit entity that has been established and operates, for a charitable, philanthropic, civic, social, benevolent, educational, religious, athletic, recreation or similar purpose, and is comprised of members who collectively belong to:

(i) a society, organization or association of a fraternal nature that operates under the lodge system, and having 1 or more affiliated chapters or branches incorporated in any state; or

(ii) a corporation organized under chapter 180; or

(iii) an established religious place of worship or instruction in the commonwealth whose real or personal property is exempt from taxation; or

(iv) a veterans' organization incorporated or chartered by the Congress of the United States, or otherwise, having 1 or more affiliated chapters or branches incorporated in any state.

Except for a religious place of worship or instruction, an entity shall not be a membership association for the purposes of this definition, unless individual membership is required for all members of the association for a period of not less than 90 days.

"Outdoor space", an outdoor area, open to the air at all times and cannot be enclosed by a wall or side covering.

"Public building", a building owned by the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof, or in an enclosed indoor space occupied by a state agency or department of the commonwealth which is located in a building not owned by the commonwealth.

"Public transportation conveyance", a vehicle or vessel used in mass public transportation or in the transportation of the public, including a train, passenger bus, school bus or other vehicle used to transport pupils, taxi, passenger ferry boat, water shuttle or other equipment used in public transportation owned by, or operated under the authority of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket Steamship Authority, Massachusetts Port Authority; state transportation department; or a vehicle or vessel open to the public that is owned by, or operated under the authority of a business, including tour vehicles or vessels, enclosed ski lifts or trams, passenger buses or vans regularly used to transport customers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a private vehicle or vessel not open to the public or not used for the transportation of the public during the times of use, including a private passenger vehicle, a private charter or rental of a limousine, bus or van or the private rental of a boat or other vessel, shall not be considered a public transportation conveyance.

"Residence", the part of a structure used as a dwelling including without limitation: a private home, townhouse, condominium, apartment, mobile home; vacation home, cabin or cottage; a residential unit in a governmental public housing facility; and the residential portions of a school, college or university dormitory or facility. A residential unit provided by an employer to an employee at a place of employment shall be considered to be a residence; if the unit is an enclosed indoor space used exclusively as a residence, and other employees, excluding family members of the employee, or the public has no right of access to the residence. For the purposes of this definition, a hotel, motel, inn, lodge, bed and breakfast or other similar public accommodation, hospital, nursing home or assisted living facility shall not be considered a residence.

"Retail tobacco store", an establishment which is not required to possess a retail food permit whose primary purpose is to sell or offer for sale to consumers, but not for resale, tobacco products and paraphernalia, in which the sale of other products is merely incidental, and in which the entry of persons under the age of 21 is prohibited at all times, and maintains a valid permit for the retail sale of tobacco products as required to be issued by the appropriate authority in the city or town where the establishment is located.

"Smoking" or "smoke", the inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying of a lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, pipe or other tobacco product intended for inhalation in any manner or form, including the use of electronic cigarettes, electronic cigars, electronic pipes or other similar products that rely on vaporization or aerosolization.

"Smoking bar", an establishment that:

(i) exclusively occupies an enclosed indoor space and is primarily engaged in the retail sale of tobacco products as defined in section 6 for consumption by customers on the premises;

(ii) derives revenue from the sale of food, alcohol or other beverages that is incidental to the sale of a tobacco product and prohibits entry to a person under 21 years of age;

(iii) prohibits a food or beverage not sold directly by the establishment from being consumed on the premises;

(iv) maintains a valid permit for the retail sale of a tobacco product as required to be issued by the appropriate authority in the city or town in which the establishment is located; and

(v) maintains a valid permit issued by the department of revenue to operate as a smoking bar.

"Tobacco product", a tobacco product as defined in section 6.

"Workplace", an indoor area, structure or facility or a portion thereof, at which 1 or more employees perform a service for compensation for the employer, other enclosed spaces rented to or otherwise used by the public; and where the employer has the right or authority to exercise control over the space.

"Work space or work spaces", an enclosed area occupied by an employee during the course of his employment.

(b)

(1) It shall be the responsibility of the employer to provide a smoke free environment for all employees working in an enclosed workplace.

(2) Smoking shall be prohibited in workplaces, work spaces, common work areas, classrooms, conference and meeting rooms, offices, elevators, hallways, medical facilities, cafeterias, employee lounges, staircases, restrooms, restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, food courts or concessions, supermarkets or retail food outlets, bars, taverns, or in a place where food or drink is sold to the public and consumed on the premise as part of a business required to collect state meals tax on the purchase; or in a train, airplane, theatre, concert hall, exhibition hall, convention center, auditorium, arena, or stadium open to the public; or in a school, college, university, museum, library, health care facility as defined in section 9C of chapter 112, group child care center, school age child care center, family child care center, school age day or overnight camp building, or on premises where activities are licensed under section 38 of chapter 10 or in or upon any public transportation conveyance or in any airport, train station, bus station, transportation passenger terminal, or enclosed outdoor platform.

(3) A person shall not smoke in the state house or in a public building or in a vehicle or vessel, owned, leased, or otherwise operated by the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof, or in a space occupied by a state agency or department of the commonwealth which is located in another building, including a private office in a building or space mentioned in this sentence, or at an open meeting of a governmental body as defined in section 11A of chapter 30A, section 23A of chapter 39 and section 9F of chapter 34, or in a courtroom or courthouse. This subsection shall not apply to a resident or patient of a state hospital, or a state-operated veterans' home.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), smoking may be permitted in the following places and circumstances:

(1) Private residences; except during such time when the residence is utilized as part of a business as a group childcare center, school age child care center, school age day or overnight camp, or a facility licensed by the department of early education and care or as a health care related office or facility;

(2)

(i) premises occupied by a membership association, if the premises is owned, or under a written lease for a term of not less than 90 consecutive days, by the association during the time of the permitted activity if the premises are not located in a public building; but no smoking shall be permitted in an enclosed indoor space of a membership association during the time the space is:

(A) open to the public; or

(B) occupied by a non-member who is not an invited guest of a member or an employee of the association; or

(C) rented from the association for a fee or other agreement that compensates the association for the use of such space.

(ii) Smoking may be permitted in an enclosed indoor space of a membership association at all times, if the space is restricted by the association to admittance only of its members, the invited guest of a member, and the employees of the membership association. A person who is a contract employee, temporary employee, or independent contractor shall not be considered an employee of a membership association under this subsection. A person who is a member of an affiliated chapter or branch of a membership association that is fraternal in nature operating under the lodge system, and is visiting the affiliated association, shall be an invited guest for the purposes of this subsection.

(3) A guest room in a hotel, motel, inn, bed and breakfast or lodging home that is designed and normally used for sleeping and living purposes, that is rented to a guest and designated as a smoking room pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (g).

(4) A retail tobacco store, if the store maintains a valid permit for the sale of tobacco products issued by the appropriate authority in the city or town in which the retail tobacco store is located. All required permits shall be displayed in a conspicuous manner, visible at all times to patrons of the establishment.

(5) A smoking bar, if the smoking bar maintains a valid permit pursuant to this section. All required permits shall be displayed in a conspicuous manner, visible at all times to patrons of the establishment.

(6) By a theatrical performer upon a stage or in the course of a professional film production, if the smoking is part of a theatrical production, and if permission has been obtained from the appropriate local authority;

(7) By a person, organization or other entity that conducts medical or scientific research on tobacco products, if the research is conducted in an enclosed space not open to the public, in a laboratory facility at an accredited college or university, or in a professional testing laboratory as defined by regulation of the department of public health;

(8) Religious ceremonies where smoking is part of the ritual; and

(9) A tobacco farmer, leaf dealer, manufacturer, importer, exporter, or wholesale distributor of tobacco products, may permit smoking in the workplace for the sole purpose of testing said tobacco for quality assurance purposes; if the smoking is necessary to conduct the test.

(d) [There is no subsection (d).]

(e) If the outdoor space has a structure capable of being enclosed by walls or covers, regardless of the materials or the removable nature of the walls or covers, the space will be considered enclosed, when the walls or covers are in place. All outdoor spaces shall be physically separated from an enclosed work space. If doors, windows, sliding or folding windows or doors or other fenestrations form any part of the border to the outdoor space, the openings shall be closed to prevent the migration of smoke into the enclosed work space. If the windows, sliding or folding windows or doors or other fenestrations are opened or otherwise do not prevent the migration of smoke into the work space, the outdoor space shall be considered an extension of the enclosed work space and subject to this section.

(f)

(1) A nursing home, licensed pursuant to section 71 of chapter 111 and any acute care substance abuse treatment center under the jurisdiction of the commonwealth, may apply to the local board of health having jurisdiction over the facility for designation of part of the facility as a residence.

(2) All applications shall designate the residential area of the facility. The residential area shall not contain an employee workspace, such as offices, restrooms or other areas used primarily by employees.

(3) The entire facility may not be designated as a residence.

(4) The designated residential area must be for the sole use of permanent residents of the facility. No temporary or short-term resident may reside in the residential portion of the facility.

(5) All areas in the designated residential area in which smoking is allowed shall be conspicuously designated as smoking areas and be adequately ventilated to prevent the migration of smoke to nonsmoking areas.

(6) The facility shall provide suitable documentation, acceptable to the local board of health, that the facility is the permanent domicile of the residents residing in that portion of the facility, that information on the hazards of smoking and second hand smoke have been provided to all residences and that smoking cessation aids are available to all residents who use tobacco products.

(7) The designated residential area shall be in conformance with the smoking restriction requirements of section 72X of chapter 111 and 105 CMR 150.015 (D)(11)(b). All residential areas shall be clearly designated as such and shall not be altered or otherwise changed without the express approval of the local board of health.

(8) All areas of a nursing home not designated as a residence shall comply with this section.

(9) The nursing home shall make reasonable accommodations for an employee, resident or visitor who does not wish to be exposed to smoke.

(10) Upon compliance with this section, submission of the required documentation and satisfactory inspection, the local board of health shall certify the designated portion of the facility as a residence. The certification shall be valid for 1 year from the date of issuance. No fewer than 30 days before the expiration of the certification, the facility may apply for re-certification. If the local board of health does not renew the certification before its expiration or provide notice that it has found sufficient cause to not recertify the residence portion of the nursing home as such, the certification shall be considered to continue until the time as the local board of health notifies the nursing home of its certification status.

(g)

(1) A designated smoking room in a hotel, motel, inn, bed and breakfast and lodging home shall be clearly marked as a designated smoking room on the exterior of all entrances from a public hallway and public spaces; and in the interior of the room. Instead of marking each room, an establishment may designate an entire floor of residential rooms as smoking. The floor shall be conspicuously designated as smoking at each entranceway on to the floor. Smoking shall not be allowed in the common areas of the floor, such as halls, vending areas, ice machine locations and exercise areas and shall comply with paragraph (4).

(2) A retail tobacco store that permits smoking on the premises shall, pursuant to paragraph (4), post in a clear and conspicuous manner, a sign at each entrance warning persons entering the establishment that smoking may be present on the premises; of the health risks associated from second hand smoke; and, that persons under the age of 21 years of age may not enter the premises.

(3) A smoking bar shall, pursuant to paragraph (4), post in a clear and conspicuous manner signs at all entrances which warn persons entering the establishment that smoking may be present on the premises; and, of the health risks associated from second hand smoke; and, that persons under the age of 21 years of age may not enter the premises.

(4) Every area in which smoking is prohibited by law shall have "no smoking" signs conspicuously posted so that the signs are clearly visible to all employees, customers, or visitors while in the workplace.

(5) Additional signs may be posted in public areas such as, the following areas: lobbies; hallways; cafeterias; kitchens; locker rooms; customer service areas; offices where the public is invited; conference rooms; lounges; waiting areas; and elevators.

(6) Approved signs and templates for signage design may be obtained from the department of public health or the local boards of health.

(7) It shall be the responsibility of the establishment to ensure that the appropriate signage is displayed and that an individual or group renting the space enforces the prohibition against smoking.

(h)

(a)

(1) A smoking bar operating in the commonwealth shall obtain a smoking bar permit from the department of revenue. A permit issued by the department shall be valid for a period of 2 years from date of issuance unless suspended or revoked. A valid permit that is not suspended at the time of its expiration may be renewed for consecutive 2-year periods.

(2) A non-refundable fee may be required with each permit and renewal application. Each permit issued by the department shall be non-transferable, for a specific location and business; and, only 1 permit may be issued to a business for a specific location during any permit period.

(3) The department shall not issue or renew a smoking bar permit to any business that has not filed all tax returns and paid all taxes due the commonwealth; or is delinquent in filing all declaration statements in connection with the smoking bar permit as required by the department.

(4) The department shall notify the local board of health or municipal health department in the city or town where the establishment is located of any permits issued, renewed, suspended, revoked or reinstated to a business.

(b) A smoking bar shall demonstrate on a quarterly basis that revenue generated from the sale of tobacco products are equal to or greater than 51 per cent of the total combined revenue generated by the sale of tobacco products, food and beverages. The department shall require each business that has been issued a smoking bar permit to submit a quarterly declaration for each 3 month period that the business is in operation; notwithstanding, the first declaration may include a period of not to exceed 4 months. A declaration submitted to the department in connection with a smoking bar permit shall be signed by the owner or business agent under the pains and penalties of perjury. A declaration received by the department shall be confidential and the financial information contained therein shall not be disclosed to the public or any other state governmental agency or department except the attorney general. In the event a business has not filed a required declaration statement, the department shall give written notice to the business that the statement is delinquent and, shall suspend the permit of a business that does not submit the required report after 21 days of the date of notice; but the department shall reinstate the suspended permit within 5 days after receiving the delinquent report.

(c) The department of revenue shall promulgate regulations to implement this section.

(i) Companies which sell ownership rights to owners of time share properties shall distinguish between smoking and non-smoking time share properties. Companies shall disclose to potential buyers whether the unit they are purchasing is a smoking or non-smoking property and post signs accordingly.

(j) Nothing in this section shall permit smoking in an area in which smoking is or may hereafter be prohibited by law including, without limitation: any other law or ordinance or by-law or any fire, health or safety regulation. Nothing in this section shall preempt further limitation of smoking by the commonwealth or any department, agency or political subdivision of the commonwealth.

(k) An individual, person, entity or organization subject to the smoking prohibitions of this section shall not discriminate or retaliate in any manner against a person for making a complaint of a violation of this section or furnishing information concerning a violation, to a person, entity or organization or to an enforcement authority. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person making a complaint or furnishing information during any period of work or time of employment, shall do so only at a time that will not pose an increased threat of harm to the safety of other persons in or about such place of work or to the public.

(l) An owner, manager or other person in control of a building, vehicle or vessel who violates this section, in a manner other than by smoking in a place where smoking is prohibited, shall be punished by a fine of $100 for the first violation; $200 for a second violation occurring within 2 years of the date of the first offense; and $300 for a third or subsequent violation within 2 years of the second violation. Each calendar day on which a violation occurs shall be considered a separate offense. If an owner, manager or other person in control of a building, vehicle or vessel violates this section repeatedly, demonstrating egregious noncompliance as defined by regulation of the department of public health, the local board of health may revoke or suspend the license to operate and shall send notice of the revocation or suspension to the department of public health. The department of public health shall promulgate regulations to implement this section including, but not limited to notice, collection, and reporting of the fines or license action, and defining uniform standards that warrant license suspension or revocation.

(m)

(1) The local board of health, the department of public health, the local inspection department or the equivalent, a municipal government or its agent, and the alcoholic beverages control commission shall enforce this section. In addition, in the city of Boston, the commissioner of health and his authorized agents shall enforce this section.

(2) An individual or person who violates this section by smoking in a place where smoking is prohibited shall be subject to a civil penalty of $100 for each violation. As an alternative to criminal prosecution, a violation of subsection (l) may also be considered a civil violation. Each enforcing agency under paragraph (1) shall dispose of a civil violation of this section by the non-criminal method of disposition procedures contained in section 21D of chapter 40, without an enabling ordinance or by-law, or by the equivalent of these procedures by a state agency under regulations of the department of public health. The disposition of fines assessed under this section shall be subject to section 188 of chapter 111. Fines assessed by the commonwealth or its agents shall be subject to section 2 of chapter 29. In a city or town having an ordinance or by-law that imposes a fine greater than the fine imposed by this section, the ordinance or by-law shall prevail over this section.

(3) Any person may register a complaint to initiate an investigation and enforcement with the local board of health, the department of public health, or the local inspection department or the equivalent.

(4) The supreme judicial court or the superior court shall issue appropriate orders to enforce this section and any regulation under it, at the request of any agency mentioned in paragraph (1).

(5) A fine or fee collected by the commonwealth under this section shall be used for the enforcement or for educational programs on the harmful effects of tobacco.

(n) Each local board of health, each local inspection department or its equivalent, and the alcoholic beverages control commission shall report annually to the commissioner of public health, beginning January 1, 2006: the number of citations issued; the workplaces which have been issued citations and the number of citations issued to each workplace; the amount that each workplace has been fined; and the total amount collected in fines. The department of public health shall file a copy of the report with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate.

(o) The department of public health may issue regulations to implement this section.

(p) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the consumption of marijuana, including, but not limited to, marijuana consumption that involves the combustion, heating, vaporization or aerosolization of cannabis products, at a licensed marijuana social consumption establishment, in designated consumption areas and as permitted by cannabis control commission regulations promulgated pursuant to section 4 of chapter 94G.

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 270, § 22

Amended by Acts 2022, c. 144,§ 78, eff. 3/1/2023.

Amended by Acts 2022, c. 180,§§ 21, 22 eff. 11/9/2022.

Amended by Acts 2018, c. 157,§§ 10, 11, 12 eff. 12/31/2018.

Amended by Acts 2017, c. 55,§ 46, eff. 7/28/2017.

Amended by Acts 2008, c. 215,§§ 82, 83 eff. 7/31/2008.

Amended by Acts 2004, c. 137,§ 2, eff. 7/5/2004.

See Acts 2004, c. 137, § 3.