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<article heading="Article Ii. Smoking, Tobacco, and Nicotine.">
  <section heading="Sec. 24-9. Definitions; smoking and using electronic cigarettes in public places.">
    <paragraph indent="1">(a)   Definitions.  In this Article, the following words and phrases have the meanings indicated:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Bus stop means a location that has been designated by a pole and appropriate signage as a place where passengers board or alight a bus.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Bus stop area means a rectangular area surrounding a bus stop pole which extends 25 feet along the curb on each side of the pole and 15 feet from the curb.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Eating and drinking establishment means an establishment regulated under Chapter 15.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Electronic cigarette means any product containing or delivering nicotine or any other substance intended for human consumption that can be used by a person to simulate smoking through inhalation of vapor or aerosol from the product. Electronic cigarette includes any such device, whether manufactured, distributed, marketed, or sold as an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, e-hookah, or vape pen, or under any other product name or descriptor. Electronic cigarette includes any component, part, or accessory of an electronic cigarette, whether or not sold separately, that is used during the operation of the electronic cigarette, but does not include any battery or battery charger that is sold separately.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Enclosed means separated by walls that extend from floor to ceiling and under a roof.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Health care facility means any office or institution where individual care or treatment of physical, mental, or emotional illness, or any other medical, physiological, or psychological condition is provided.  Health care facility includes any hospital, clinic, nursing home for the aging or chronically ill, laboratory, or office of any physician, dentist, psychologist, psychiatrist, physiologist, podiatrist, optometrist or optician.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Outdoor serving area means a patio, deck, porch, or other outdoor seating or serving area, whether partially enclosed or open to the sky, that is permitted for outdoor eating or drinking under the control of an eating and drinking establishment.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Person means any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or organization of any kind.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Public place means an enclosed area in which members of the public are normally invited or permitted.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Public meeting means any meeting wherever held, open to the public with no membership requirement.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Rail transit station means an area that:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   Includes the fare-paid and roofed areas;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   Is a regular stopping place for the pickup and discharge of passengers in regular route service, contract service, or special or community type service; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(3)   Is owned, operated, or controlled by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Retail store means any establishment whose primary purpose is to sell merchandise or food for consumption off the premises, directly to consumers.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Smoking or smoke means the act of lighting, smoking, or carrying a lighted or smoldering cigar, cigarette, or pipe, of any kind.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Tobacco shop means any store that primarily sells tobacco, tobacco products and pipes or other implements used to smoke tobacco.  “Tobacco shop” does not include an area of a larger store in which tobacco is sold.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Vape shop means any store that primarily sells electronic cigarettes. Vape shop does not include an area of a larger store in which electronic cigarettes are sold.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Vaping or vape means the act of using an electronic cigarette.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Workplace means an enclosed area or any part of an enclosed area used in the performance of employment or related activities.  Workplace includes a motor vehicle owned or leased by the employer, conference room, auditorium, library, office machine station, lunchroom, vending area, locker room, lounge, hallway, or stairwell.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(b)   Smoking and vaping are prohibited in certain public places.  A person must not smoke or use any electronic cigarette in or on any:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   Elevator, regardless of capacity, except elevators in single-family dwellings as provided by state law;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   Health care facility, regardless of capacity, except:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(A)   In the private, enclosed sleeping or living quarters of persons working in a health care facility where patients and members of the public are not normally present; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(B)   In patient sleeping quarters, if:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="4">1.   All patients assigned to the room have agreed to have the room designated as a smoking area;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="4">2.   The administrator of the facility, or a designee, has designated the room as a smoking area; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="4">3.   A reasonable effort is made to assign patients to sleeping rooms according to the patient’s nonsmoking or smoking preference;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(3)   School or other educational facility operated by the Montgomery County public schools or Montgomery College, except when expressly permitted under state law;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(4)   Building or part of a building owned or leased by County government, and any private building or part of a building during a public meeting called by a government body;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(5)   Theatre or movie theater;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(6)   County government workplace, including any privately-owned workplace where County employees are regularly assigned;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(7)   Rail transit station;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(8)   Business or organization open to the public, including a retail store, bank, office, factory, eating and drinking establishment, or any other private business or organization;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(9)   Restroom, except a restroom in a private residence;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(10)   Enclosed auditorium, concert or lecture hall;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(11)   property that is owned or leased by the County, including a bus shelter or bus stop area, but excluding any other part of a County right-of-way; or</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(12)   outdoor serving area, except as provided in paragraph (c)(9) or (e).</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(c)   Exceptions.  Smoking or vaping is not prohibited by this Section:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   In a tobacco shop or a vape shop;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   In a vehicle, when used in the course of employment and occupied by only one individual;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(3)   When smoking or vaping is necessary to the conduct of scientific research into the health effects of tobacco smoke and is conducted at an analytical or educational laboratory;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(4)   In any part of a private residence which is not open to the public for business purposes;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(5)   In up to 40% of the sleeping rooms in a hotel or motel;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(6)   In up to 40% of the premises of a fraternal, religious, patriotic, or charitable organization or corporation or fire company or rescue squad during an event that the organization or corporation holds on its own property and which is open to the public;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(7)   In the bar and dining area of an eating and drinking establishment that:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(A)   is a club as defined in the state alcoholic beverages law:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(B)   has an alcoholic beverages license issued to private clubs under the state alcoholic beverages law; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(C)   allows consumption of alcoholic beverages on its premises;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(8)   In any occupied residential unit owned or leased by the County for as long as the occupant on May 27, 2013 retains possession of the unit;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(9)   On a golf course or in an outdoor seating area associated with a golf course if employees of an eating and drinking establishment do not serve food or drink in the outdoor seating area; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(10)   In an area designated by the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services under subsection (d).</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(d)   Notwithstanding paragraph (b)(11), the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services may designate an outside area on property that is owned or leased by the County where smoking or vaping is allowed if the Director finds that a complete prohibition on that property would impede a program’s mission or effective delivery of services.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(e)   Outdoor serving areas.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   An eating and drinking establishment may designate a portion of an outdoor serving area that is on a rooftop or balcony where smoking or vaping is allowed.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   This paragraph does not apply in a municipality that prohibits smoking or vaping in an outdoor serving area.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(f)   Posting signs.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   Except as provided in paragraph (e)(4), signs prohibiting or permitting smoking or vaping, as the case may be, must be posted conspicuously at each entrance to a public place covered by this Section.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   Where smoking or vaping is prohibited by this Section, the sign either must read “No smoking or vaping by order of Montgomery County Code § 24-9. Enforced by (department designated by the County Executive)” or be a performance- oriented sign such as “No Smoking or Vaping” or “This is a Smoke Free Establishment.”  The international no-smoking symbol may replace the words “No smoking.”</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(3)   Signs need not be permanently attached to a structure.  The owner and the person in control of the room or area are both responsible for posting the required signs.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(4)   The Director of Health and Human Services may waive the requirement of paragraph (e)(1) on County property, or require a sign to be posted in another location, if the Director finds, after consulting with the Director of General Services, that posting a sign at an entrance is not feasible.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(g)   Duty to prevent smoking in certain areas. The owner or person in control of a building or area covered by this Section must refuse to serve or seat any person who smokes or vapes where smoking or vaping is prohibited, and must ask the person to leave the building or area if the person continues to smoke or vape after proper warning.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(h)   Optional smoking restrictions. The owner or person in control of any property not covered in subsection (b) or exempted under subsection (c) may prohibit or restrict smoking as provided in this Section by notifying, in writing, the department designated to enforce this Section and by posting appropriate signs.  The department must enforce the prohibition or restriction wherever signs are posted until the owner or person in control of the property notifies the department in writing that the owner or person in control has revoked the prohibition or restriction and removed all signs.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(i)   Limitations.  This Section does not:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   allow any person to smoke at any place where smoking is otherwise restricted; or</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   prevent an owner or person in charge from prohibiting smoking entirely at any business or workplace.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(j)   Other laws still apply.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   This Section adds to, and does not replace or restrict, any other applicable federal, state, or County law or regulation.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   This Section does not allow smoking where smoking is restricted by any applicable fire prevention rule or regulation.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(k)   Regulations.  The County Executive may adopt reasonable regulations under method (2) to enforce this Section.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(l)   Enforcement and penalties.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   Any violation of this Article is a class C civil violation.  Each day a violation exists is a separate offense.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   The County Attorney or any affected party may file an action in a court with jurisdiction to enjoin repeated violations of the Section.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(3)   The County Executive must designate by Executive order one or more County departments or agencies to enforce this Article.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(4)   The Director of the Department of Health and Human Services may suspend a license issued under Chapter 15 for up to 3 days if the Director finds, under the procedures of Section 15-16, that the operator of an eating and drinking establishment has knowingly and repeatedly violated any provision of this Section.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">“Sec. 2. Severability; legislative intent. (a) The County Council intends that, if a court issues a final decision holding that any part of County Code Section 24-9, as amended by Section 1 of this Act, or the application of Section 24-9 to any person or circumstance, is unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions of Section 24-9 and the application of that Section to all other persons and circumstances remain in full effect.  (b) Without limiting the generality of subsection (a), if the exemption from the prohibitions of Section 24-9 that is contained in subsection 24-9(c)(7), as inserted by Section 1 of this Act, is held to be unconstitutional or invalid on its face or as applied to any person or circumstance, then the Council intends that: (1) the exemption be severed from the remainder of Section 24-9; and (2) all provisions of Section 24-9, as otherwise amended by Section 1 of this Act, continue in effect and apply to all eating and drinking establishments, including those eating and drinking establishments that were exempted under subsection 24-9(c)(7), as inserted by Section 1 of this Act.”</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">“Sec. 3. Marketing Assistance.  The Department of Economic Development must establish and administer a fund, subject to appropriation, to provide marketing assistance to County restaurants affected by the provisions of this law.  The Department must develop criteria for use of these funds and report to the Council quarterly on expenditures from the fund.”</paragraph>
  </section>
  <section heading="Sec. 24-10. Availability of Tobacco Products to Minors.">
    <paragraph indent="1">(a)   In order to reduce the accessibility of tobacco products to minors, a person must not install or maintain a vending machine which dispenses a tobacco product anywhere in the County except inside a private club that is licensed to serve alcoholic beverages.  A vending machine located inside any private club must not be placed in any restroom, coatroom, unmonitored hallway, outerwaiting area, or other unattended place.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(b)   As used in this Section:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   minor means any person under 18 years old;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   tobacco product means any cigarette or cigar containing tobacco, pipe tobacco, smokeless or chewing tobacco, and any other product that contains tobacco; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(3)   vending machine means any electronic, mechanical, or other device that dispenses a tobacco product.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(c)   Any violation of this Section is a Class A violation.  Both the owner of the vending machine and the owner of the business or residence in which the machine is located are responsible for complying with this Section.  The Health and Human Services Department and any other agency designated by the County Executive must enforce this Section.</paragraph>
  </section>
  <section heading="Sec. 24-11. Distribution of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes to certain persons.">
    <paragraph indent="1">(a)   Definitions.  In this Section the following words have the meanings indicated.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">Distribute means to:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   give away, sell, deliver, dispense, or issue;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   offer to give away, sell, deliver, dispense, or issue; or</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(3)   cause or hire any person to give away, sell, deliver, dispense, or issue or offer to give away, sell, deliver, dispense, or issue.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">Electronic cigarette has the same meaning as in Section 24-9.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">Tobacco product means any substance containing tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, smoking tobacco, snuff, or smokeless tobacco.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(b)   Unlawful distribution.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   A person engaged in the business of selling or otherwise distributing tobacco products for commercial purposes must not distribute any tobacco product, cigarette rolling paper, coupon redeemable for any tobacco product, or electronic cigarette to an individual under 21 years old, unless:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(A)   the individual is acting solely as the agent of the minor’s employer who is engaged in the business of distributing tobacco products; or</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(B)   the individual is:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="4">(i)   at least 18 years of age;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="4">(ii)   is an active duty member of the military; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="4">(iii)   presents a valid military identification.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   A person, who is not a person described under paragraph (b)(1), must not buy for, sell to, or deliver to an individual under 21 years old any tobacco product, cigarette rolling papers, or electronic cigarette, unless the individual under 21 years old is:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(A)   at least 18 years of age;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(B)   is an active duty member of the military; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(C)   presents a valid military identification.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(c)   Subsection (b) does not apply to the distribution of a coupon which is redeemable for any tobacco product when the coupon is contained in a newspaper, a magazine, or any other type of publication in which the coupon is incidental to the primary purpose of the publication, or sent through the mail.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(d)   A person has not violated this Section if:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   that person examined a driver’s license, military identification, or another valid identification issued by an employer, a government entity, or an institution of higher education; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   that license or other identification positively identified the buyer or recipient of a tobacco product or electronic cigarette as at least 21 years old or is at least 18 years old and has a valid military identification.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(e)   If an individual under 21 years old bought a tobacco product or electronic cigarette from a vending machine, this Section does not apply to the owner of the vending machine or any other person with control over the vending machine.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(f)   A person who violates this Section is liable for a civil violation. The maximum civil fine is $1000 for a first offense and $1000 for each subsequent offense.</paragraph>
  </section>
  <section heading="Sec. 24-12. Tobacco and electronic cigarette products – placement.">
    <paragraph indent="1">(a)   Placement.  A retail seller of any tobacco or electronic cigarette product must not display or store the product in any place that is accessible to buyers of the product without the intervention of the seller or an employee of the seller.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(b)   Definitions.  Tobacco product means any substance containing tobacco, including cigarette, cigars, smoking tobacco, snuff, or smokeless tobacco.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(c)   Applicability.  This Section does not apply to:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   the sale of any tobacco or electronic cigarette product from a vending machine that complies with all requirements of state law; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   any store where only or primarily tobacco or electronic cigarette products are sold.</paragraph>
  </section>
  <section heading="Sec. 24-13.  Use and possession of tobacco products or electronic cigarettes by certain persons prohibited.">
    <paragraph indent="1">(a)   Prohibition. A person under 21 years old must not use or possess a tobacco product or an electronic cigarette unless that person is:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   at least 18 years of age;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   is an active duty member of the military; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(3)   presents a valid military identification.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(b)   Penalties. Notwithstanding Section 24-9(l), the monetary penalty for a violation of this Section is $0.00.</paragraph>
  </section>
  <section heading="Sec. 24-14. Child Resistant Packaging of Liquid Nicotine Container Required.">
    <paragraph indent="1">(a)   Definitions. In this Section, the following words have the meanings indicated:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Child resistant packaging means packaging that is:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   designed or constructed to be significantly difficult for children under 5 years of age to open or obtain a toxic or harmful amount of the substance contained therein within a reasonable time;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   not difficult for normal adults to use properly; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(3)   tested in accordance with the method described in Code of Federal Regulations, Title 16, Section 1700.20, as in effect on March 3, 2015.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Child resistant packaging does not mean packaging which all such children cannot open or obtain a toxic or harmful amount within a reasonable time.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">Liquid nicotine container means a container that is used to hold liquid containing nicotine in any concentration.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(b)   Child resistant packaging required. A retail seller of any liquid nicotine or liquid nicotine container must not sell, resell, distribute, dispense, or give away:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   any liquid or gel substance containing nicotine unless the substance is in child resistant packaging; or</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   any nicotine liquid container unless the container constitutes child resistant packaging.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(c)   Exceptions. This Section does not apply to a liquid nicotine container that is sold, marketed, or intended for use in an electronic cigarette if the container is prefilled and sealed by the manufacturer and not intended to be opened by the consumer.</paragraph>
  </section>
  <section heading="Sec. 24-15. Distribution of electronic cigarettes near certain schools.">
    <paragraph indent="1">(a)   Definition. In this Section, the following words have the meanings indicated:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">Distribute means to:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   give away, sell, deliver, dispense, or issue;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   offer to give away, sell, deliver, dispense, or issue; or</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(3)   cause or hire any person to give away, sell, deliver, dispense, or issue or offer to give away, sell, deliver, dispense, or issue.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">Manufacturer means an electronic smoking devices manufacturer as defined in Section 16.7-101 of the Business Regulations Article of the Maryland Code.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(b)   Unlawful distribution. A manufacturer must not distribute any electronic cigarette to any retail store within 0.5 miles of any middle school or high school in the County.</paragraph>
  </section>
  <section heading="Sec. 24-16. Distribution of flavored electronic cigarettes.">
    <paragraph indent="1">(a)   Definition. In this Section, the following words have the meanings indicated:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">Characterizing flavor means a distinguishing taste or aroma, other than the taste or aroma of tobacco, imparted either before or during use of an electronic cigarette or component part. Characterizing flavor includes any taste or aroma relating to any fruit, mint, menthol, wintergreen, chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb, or spice. However, an electronic cigarette is not deemed to have a characterizing flavor solely because of the use of additives or flavorings or the provision of ingredient information.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">Constituent means any ingredient, substance, chemical, or compound, other than nicotine, tobacco, water, or reconstituted tobacco sheet, that is added by the manufacturer to an electronic cigarette during the processing, manufacture or packing of the electronic cigarette.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">Distribute means to:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   give away, sell, deliver, dispense, or issue;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   offer to give away, sell, deliver, dispense, or issue; or</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(3)   cause or hire any person to give away, sell, deliver, dispense, or issue or offer to give away, sell, deliver, dispense, or issue.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">Flavored electronic cigarette means any electronic cigarette or any component part thereof that contains a constituent that imparts a characterizing flavor.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">Manufacturer means an electronic smoking devices manufacturer as defined in Section 16.7-101 of the Business Regulations Article of the Maryland Code.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(b)   Unlawful distribution. A manufacturer must not distribute any flavored electronic cigarette to any retail store within 0.5 miles of any elementary, middle, or high school, library,, or recreational facility in the County.</paragraph>
  </section>
  <section heading="Secs. 24-17 — 24-21. Reserved." />
</article>