521.10 NONSMOKING AREAS IN PLACES OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY.

   As used in this section, "place of public assembly" means:

      (1)   Enclosed theaters, except the lobby; opera houses; auditoriums; classrooms; elevators; rooms in which persons are confined as a matter of health care, including but not limited to a hospital room and a room in a rest home serving as the residence of a person living in such rest home;

      (2)   All buildings and other enclosed structures owned by the State,its agencies or political subdivisions, including but not limited to hospitals and State institutions for persons with mental illness and persons with intellectual disabilities; university and college buildings, except rooms within those buildings used primarily as the residences of students or other persons affiliated with the university or college; office buildings; libraries; museums; and vehicles used in public transportation. That portion of a building or other enclosed structure that is owned by the State, a State agency or a political subdivision and that is used primarily as a food service establishment is not a place of public assembly.

   (b)   For the purpose of separating persons who smoke from persons who do not smoke for the comfort and health of persons not smoking, in every place of public assembly there shall be an area where smoking is not permitted, which shall be designated a no smoking area. Provided that, no more than one-half of the rooms in any health care facility in which persons are confined as a matter of health care may be designated as smoking areas in their entirety. The designation shall be made before the place of public assembly is made available to the public. In places included in subsection (a)(1) hereof the local fire authority having jurisdiction shall designate no smoking area. In places included in subsection (a)(2) hereof that are owned by the Municipality, Council shall designate an officer who shall designate the area. In places included in subsection (a)(3) hereof, the person having control of the operations of the place of public assembly shall designate the no smoking area. In places included in subsection (a)(2) hereof which are also included in subsection (a)(1) hereof, the officer who has authority to designate the area in places in subsection (a)(2) hereof shall designate the no smoking area. A no smoking area may include the entire place of public assembly. Designations shall be made by the placement of signs that are clearly visible and that state "NO SMOKING". No person shall remove signs from areas designated as no smoking areas.

   (c)   This section does not affect or modify the prohibition contained in Ohio R.C. 3313.751(B).

   (d)   No person shall smoke in any area designated as a no smoking area in accordance with subsection (b) hereof or Ohio R.C. 3791.031.

   (e)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(ORC 3791.031)