New Smoking Law to Take Effect Oct. 30

The new law prohibits smoking within 15 feet of a building entrance or exit, and 15 feet from entrance or exit to the grounds of a nursing home. The Center for Environmental Health at DOH is preparing guidance related to the implementation of the new law and particularly whether the 15 foot requirement applies to the entire campus of a nursing home or should be interpreted as applying to a particular egress. LeadingAge New York anticipates the guidance to be issued shortly.

The law allows only residents or their guests to smoke in a separate outside area, that is designated as a smoking area, as long as that area is not within 30 feet of the building structure. In other words, staff would not be permitted to smoke in those areas. The new law does not effect resident smoking in currently designated smoking areas within the nursing home.

Contact: Elliott Frost, efrost@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8832