Senate Bill 2873 Summary

• Establishes the "Mississippi Uniform Smoke-Free Public Place Act of 2012" to prohibit smoking in all enclosed public places including restaurants, retail stores, buses, health facilities, and sports arenas, effective July 1, 2012.

• Prohibits smoking within 20 feet of building entrances and bans smoking in any indoor or outdoor public facility during organized athletic events for persons under 18 years of age.

• Exempts bars, private residences, hotel/motel rooms, retail tobacco stores, casinos, private clubs, cigar bars, and certain restaurant bars if secondhand smoke does not infiltrate prohibited areas.

• Imposes civil penalties of $25 for first violation, $75 for second violation, and up to $150 for subsequent violations, enforced by the State Department of Health and law enforcement.

• Requires posted signs at entrances, removal of ashtrays from prohibited areas, and removes state preemption over local smoking ordinances enacted prior to the act's passage.