The Department of Health and Senior Services (Department) is proposing new rules at N.J.A.C. 8:6, Smoke-Free Air, to implement the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act (“Act”), P.L. 2005, c.383, approved January 15, 2006, and codified at N.J.S.A. 26:3D-55 et seq.

The Act directs the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services to promulgate rules to implement the Act.  The proposed new rules would fulfill this requirement.

The Department will convene a public hearing on the proposed new rules at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 2, 2006 at the Suburban Square Shopping Center, 25 Scotch Road, Conference Room C (Basement), Ewing, NJ 08628.  Entrance and parking are in the rear of the shopping center, except for handicapped access and parking, which are available at the front entrance.

Persons wishing to comment on the proposal at the public hearing who wish to be placed on the list of speakers are asked to call Ms. Davis at (609) 292-9382 by Monday, May 29, 2006, and to bring an extra written copy of their remarks for submission to the public record.

The proposal appears in the May 15, 2006 issue of the New Jersey Register.  The public has until July 14, 2006 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, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, P. O. Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360.  Written comments must be postmarked on or before July 14, 2006, which is the close of the 60-day public comment period.

Additional information about the Department’s Smoke-Free Air Act Initiative is available at www.smokefree.nj.gov.

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