Rules for Georgia's Smokefree Air Act of 2005 are to take effect Nov. 17, the day of the Great American Smokeout. The rules were adopted by the Department of Human Resources Board Oct. 19, after the Act took effect July 1. Health officials say the law and the rules help assure Georgians that the places they dine, work and visit will be smoke free.

"By actively prohibiting smoking and preventing secondhand smoke exposure in public places, we can begin to reduce tobacco related deaths in Georgia each year, which number more than 11,000," said Dr. Stuart Brown, director of the Division of Public Health.

Secondhand smoke is the smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar, and contains more than 4,000 chemicals. Forty of these substances are known to cause cancer in humans or animals. Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause severe health problems in smokers and non-smokers including cancer, emphysema and asthma. Children are especially vulnerable.

Brown said Division of Public Health began an intensified education effort around the "Be Smokefree" component of the statewide Live Healthy Georgia campaign Oct. 24, launching the Live Healthy Georgia Web site (www.livehealthygeorgia.org), and undertaking an advertising and public relations campaign encouraging Georgians who smoke to call the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line (1-877-270-STOP, 1-877-777-6534 for the hearing impaired, or-1-877-266-3863 for Spanish speakers).

The Rules adopted by the DHR Board will become effective Nov. 17, 20 days after filing with the Secretary of State's Office. Nov. 17 is also the date of the Great American Smokeout, an event first developed by the American Cancer Society in 1977. Each November since then the Great American Smokeout has encouraged smokers to quit cigarettes for at least one day, in hopes they will quit forever.

Key aspects of the recently adopted Smokefree Air Act Rules include:

· A smoke-free public place must prohibit smoking 24 hours per day in any area that does not meet the requirements for smoking areas specified in the Act.

·Georgia Department of Human Resources requires that signage must be used in all public places stating the smoking status of the business and the law's health code number as specified in the Act.

·Signage must be placed in entrances and exits of places where smoking is and is not allowed. Regulation signage is available at http://dhr.georgia.gov/gasmokefreeair.

·Public places that allow smoking must have separate rooms for smoking and separate ventilation systems that are approved by the State of Georgia, or by an appropriately licensed/certified professional. A written statement certifying that the air handling system as designed meets the requirements of the law must be provided. The air handling system serving the enclosed smoking area must meet the requirements specified in the Rules.

·Individuals found in violation of the Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, if convicted, shall be punished by a fine not less than $100 and not more than $500. Non-compliance with the Georgia Smokefree Air Act of 2005 by any person or business that provides goods and or services to the public or an employer may be subject to fines and or local legal proceedings under the violation of a state or local health code, whichever is more restrictive; cannot be in conflict with state rules and regulations.

·The Georgia Smokefree Air Act of 2005 allows for more restrictive local laws, rules, and regulations than are currently in place or may be passed in the future.

·The Georgia Smokefree Air Act of 2005 will be enforced by the Georgia Department of Human Resources, county Boards of Health and their authorized agents.

More information is available at www.livehealthygeorgia.org. For questions about the Rules recently adopted by DHR, or the GA Smokefree Air Act, the public can call 404-657-3378 or email questions and concerns to gasmokefreeair@dhr.state.ga.us.

Full copies of the Rules adopted by the DHR Board and the law, the Georgia Smokefree Air Act, are available at http://dhr.georgia.gov/smokefreeair.

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