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Public Law
124th Legislature
First Regular Session
Chapter 140
H.P. 556 - L.D. 820
An Act To Prohibit Smoking in Outdoor Eating Areas
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.   22 MRSA §1542, sub-§1,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 257, §2, is further amended to read:
 
1. Prohibition.    Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed areas of public places, outdoor eating areas as provided in section 1550 and all rest rooms made available to the public. In the case of a child care facility that is not home-based, smoking is also prohibited in a facility-designated motor vehicle within 12 hours before transporting a child who is in the care of the child care facility, and whenever such a child is present in the vehicle. Smoking is also prohibited in outdoor areas of the facility where children may be present.
Sec. 2.   22 MRSA §1550  is enacted to read:
§ 1550.   Smoking in outdoor eating areas
 
1.  Definition.      As used in this section, “outdoor eating area” means a patio, deck or other property that is partially enclosed or open to the sky that is permitted for outdoor eating or drinking under the control of an eating establishment, as defined in section 2491, subsection 7, as long as food or drink is served by the eating establishment to the public for consumption on the premises.
 
2.  Smoking prohibited.      Smoking is prohibited in an outdoor eating area if the outdoor eating area or any portion thereof is open and available for dining and beverage service.
 
3.  Notification; request for compliance.      An eating establishment with an outdoor eating area shall post signs in accordance with section 1543, notify its patrons of the prohibition on smoking in outdoor eating areas and request that all persons within an outdoor eating area comply with this section.
 
Effective September 12, 2009