LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
  Policy 110.01 Smoking in Department of Mental Health Facilities
 
Policy Category:  Administrative
Distribution Level:  Directly Operated and Contracted
Responsible Party:  Administrative Services Bureau
 
Approved by Edgar M. Soto, MBA, CSP, Administrative Deputy III, on Jul 16, 2020
I.  POLICY STATEMENTS
 
To establish criteria for enforcement of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH/Department) policy to control smoking within its work places.

Contracted agencies shall develop an internal policy and associated procedures that are consistent with their organizational practices and meet the requirements set forth in this policy.
 
II.  DEFINITIONS
 
Smoking: means inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted, heated, or ignited cigar, cigarette, cigarillo, pipe, hookah, electronic smoking device, or plant product, or using any other method or device that delivers nicotine, cannabis or other like substances to a person

Electronic smoking device: means an electronic device which can be used to deliver an inhaled dose of nicotine, cannabis, or other substances, including any component, part, or accessory of such a device, whether or not sold separately. The term "electronic smoking device" includes any such device, whether manufactured, distributed, marketed, or sold as an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar or cigarillo, electronic pipe, electronic hookah, or any other product name or descriptor.
 
III.  POLICY
 
It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles that all County vehicles shall be designated as "no smoking" vehicles and all portions of County-owned facilities and all portions of facilities leased by or from the County, which are not open to the sky, shall be designated as "no smoking" areas. (County Ord. 2.126.040)

In addition, smoking, including the use of electronic smoking devices, or allowing smoking or the use of electronic smoking devices, is prohibited in the following areas of County facilities:
  • Within 50 feet of any operable entry or exit door or operable window of any County building and within 25 feet of any access ramp or handicap path.
  • Within any County parking lot, parking structure, or parking garage, whether enclosed or open to the sky.
  • Within any meeting room, chamber or place of public assembly where public business is being conducted and which is open to members of the general public, either as participants or as spectators.
  • Within any indoor area of every private or public healthcare facility, including but not limited to hospitals; and all outdoor areas of County owned or operated healthcare facilities, except that smoking by patients may be allowed in designated outdoor patient smoking areas in County owned or operated recuperative care facilities, facilities treating mental illness, and long-term healthcare facilities, including those defined in the California Health and Safety code Section 1250, subject to the Director of the County department responsible for the facility.
Violation of this policy shall constitute an infraction. (County Ord. 2.126.080)
 
IV.  PROCEDURES
 
V.  AUTHORITIES