LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session January 31, 1995 TO: Honorable Seantor Judith Zaffirini, IN RE: Senate Bill No. 65 Chair By: Moncrief Committee on Health & Human Services Senate Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No. 65 (Relating to minimum standards for smoking in certain public places or at certain public meetings; creating an offense and providing penalties.) this office has determined the following: The bill would make it an offense for a person to smoke at a public hearing conducted by a state agency or in a state building prior to September 1, 1996, unless that person is in a designated smoking area, or unless the person is smoking in a place in a state building for which a waiver has been granted by the Commissioner of Health. After September 1, 1996, the bill would make it an offense for a person to smoke at a public hearing or in a state building, with no exceptions. An offense is a Class C misdemeanor, unless the defendant is shown to have committed the same offense one or more times within five years, in which event the offense is punishable by a fine, not to exceed $2,000. The bill provides a manner in which certain areas of state buildings may be designated as smoking areas, prior to September 1, 1996. After September 1, 1996, no area of a state building may be designated a smoking area. No physical or other modifications of state buildings would be required to create the smoking areas. However, agencies will be required to develop written smoking policies and post signs identifying smoking areas, prior to September 1, 1996, and prohibiting smoking, after September 1, 1996. No significant fiscal implication to the State or units of local government is anticipated. Source: General Services Commission, Department of Health LBB Staff: JK, KF, AZ