News Release

Four Corners Health Department

For Immediate Release

May 12, 2009

Contact:  Vicki L, Duey, Executive Director, (402) 362-2621 or 1-877-337-3573, questions@fourcorners.ne.gov

Smoke-free Nebraska

The statewide smoking ban takes effect on June 1, 2009.  Four Corners Health Department (FCHD) along with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services are working with local businesses to help them comply with Nebraska’s new smoke-free law.

The Clean Indoor Air Act protects the public health and welfare by prohibiting smoking in indoor places and places of employment.  The finalized regulations and informational resources are available online at www.smokefree.ne.gov.

To assist businesses in writing and implementing a smoke-free workplace policy, FCHD has provided toolkits to all businesses with more than 25 employees in the Four Corners district.  “It’s important to provide businesses the information they need so they can take the appropriate steps to be in compliance with the law,” said Vicki L. Duey, Executive Director.  In the next few weeks, Four Corners will continue its educational outreach to businesses, bars and restaurants.

FCHD has received questions about outdoor smoking areas which are allowed by the law.  Such areas must have a minimum of 20 percent of the total wall area permanently open to the outdoors.  The Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office has developed a list of construction and safety reminders to help business owners develop outdoor smoking areas.  Guidance and other information is available online at www.smokefree.ne.gov.

The law will be enforced on a complaint basis, meaning complaints from citizens will trigger inspections.  According to Duey, Four Corners will conduct the inspections for their district in most cases.

An injunction can be issued against the proprietor or business requiring them to stop allowing smoking on the premises.  In addition, business proprietors can be found guilty of a Class V misdemeanor (maximum $100 fine) for the first offense and a Class IV misdemeanor (minimum $100, maximum $500) for second and subsequent offenses.

For more information about the law, go to www.smokefree.ne.gov or call Four Corners Health Department at 1-877-337-3573 or 402-362-2621.