A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - - CHILD DAY CARE CENTERS
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 23-28.15 of the General Laws entitled "Child Day Care Centers " is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
23-28.15-23. Smoking prohibited. -- (a) No person shall smoke, chew, or otherwise use tobacco products in the buildings or outdoor play areas of a licensed child day care center, as defined in section 23-28.1-5(21), or in any vehicle used by the center for transporting children or in outside areas within twenty-five (25) feet of buildings or outdoor play areas; provided, further, that smoking shall not occur in any area within the children's view. The administrator of a child day care center shall post in a conspicuous place in the center a notice stating that smoking is prohibited in the facility and its vehicles and on its grounds.
(b) No person shall smoke, chew, or otherwise use tobacco products within the household or outdoor play areas of a family day care home as defined in section 23-28.1-5(33) or a group family day care home as defined in or in outside areas within twenty-five (25) feet of the home or outdoor play areas; nor shall smoking occur in any area within the children's view, during the period of time when individuals receiving day care services are present. Smoking may be permitted during hours in which individuals receiving day care are not present; provided, however, that the day care provider shall notify the parent, custodian, or guardian of each individual receiving day care services that smoking routinely occurs in the home during hours when the home is not in operation.
(c) For purposes of this section, "tobacco product usage "shall mean the smoking or use of any substance or item which contains tobacco, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or other smoking tobacco, or the use of snuff or smokeless tobacco, or having in one's possession a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, or other lighted substance or item containing tobacco.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a city or town from enacting or enforcing an ordinance relating to tobacco use in a facility providing day care services if the ordinance is more stringent than this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.