BILL NUMBER: AB 574INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Hill FEBRUARY 25, 2009 An act to add Section 1286.5 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to health facilities. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 574, as introduced, Hill. Health facilities: smoking. 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. Existing law, with certain exceptions, prohibits smoking in patient care areas, waiting rooms, and visiting rooms of a health facility. A violation of these provisions is an infraction. This bill would authorize the department to establish a program with the goal of reducing the associated risks from tobacco smoke for hospital patients, staff, and visitors, and to encourage and assist these persons to quit smoking. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 1286.5 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read: 1286.5. The department may establish a program with the goal of reducing the associated risks from tobacco smoke for hospital patients, staff, and visitors, and to encourage and assist these persons to quit smoking.