The Commissioner of Health and Senior Services is proposing amendments and a new rule at N.J.A.C. 8:6, the Smoke-Free Air Rules.  The notice of proposal appears in the June 4, 2007, issue of the New Jersey Register.

N.J.A.C. 8:6, the Smoke-Free Air Rules, adopted May 21, 2007, establishes standards that implement the Smoke-Free Air Act, N.J.S.A. 26:3D-55 (Act).  The proposed amendments at N.J.A.C. 8:6-3.2 and 3.5 would delete the prohibition against local health agencies assessing their inspection costs associated with processing cigar bar and cigar lounge exemption applications.

Proposed new N.J.A.C. 8:6-4.3 would authorize local health agencies to conduct inspections to ascertain the eligibility of entities claiming the tobacco retail establishment exemption.

The public has until August 3, 2007 to comment on the proposal.  Persons wishing to comment on the proposal must submit their comments in writing to Geneviève Raganelli, Regulatory Officer, Office of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Office of the Commissioner, NJ Department of Health and Senior Services, P. O. Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360.  Written comments must be postmarked on or before August 3, 2007, which is the close of the 60-day public comment period.

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