AB 574 : Smoke Free Hospitals

BREATHE California organizations are leading the efforts to make hospital campuses smoke-free across the state. We have teamed up with Assemblymember Jerry Hill for AB 574. This legislative bill was recently passed by the Assembly Health Committee. Next stop, the bill goes to the Fiscal Committee and onto the Assembly Floor for a final vote expected this summer. Currently, AB 574 has no opposition. BREATHE California has enlisted the support from the California Medical Association and local healthcare service organizations statewide. We are encouraging others to join in support to ensure smooth passage, promoting clean air and healthy lungs at hospitals.

Specifically, AB 574 prohibits smoking in all areas of a general acute care hospital and throughout the entire hospital campus, as specified. The bill would require general acute care hospitals to post specified signs and train employees on the smoking policy. The bill would also specify that violation of these provisions does not constitute either a misdemeanor or an infraction. Existing law establishes various programs for the prevention of disease and the promotion of health to be administered by the State Department of Public Health, including, but not limited to, a program for the licensing and regulation of health facilities. A violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor. Existing law, with certain exceptions, prohibits smoking in patient care areas, waiting rooms, and visiting rooms of specified health facilities, including general acute care hospitals. A violation of these provisions is an infraction.