La. Admin. Code tit. 22 § I-719

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section I-719 - Tobacco-Free and No Smoking Policy [Formerly Section 705]

A. Purpose. To establish the deputy secretary's policy to: protect the health and safety of Youth Services (YS) staff, youth and visitors from exposure to environmental smoke, reduce the risk of second-hand smoke, reduce the entrance of contraband, provide a healthy environment for youth, promote a healthy and wholesome example for our youth, establish a no smoking and tobacco-free policy for youth housed in secure care facilities, and establish a policy regarding smoking and use of tobacco products by YS staff.

B. Applicability- All Employees, Youth and Visitors of YS.

C. Policy. The deputy secretary recognizes the health and safety issues caused by exposure to environmental smoke; therefore, this policy shall be implemented and enforced for YS Central Office, regional offices and facilities. Youth housed in secure care facilities will not be allowed to smoke or use tobacco products at any time. Smoking and other tobacco product use is prohibited in all facility buildings, facility grounds, buildings located in the regional offices and YS Central Office. Smoking is also prohibited in all state vehicles.

D. Definitions

Facility - all buildings and grounds related to any Office of Youth Development (OYD) secure care residential housing for youth.

Tobacco Product - any cigar, cigarette, smokeless tobacco, smoking tobacco or any other related product that contains tobacco.

Y.S. Central Office - Offices of the Deputy Secretary, Undersecretary of the Office of Management and Finance, and their support staff.

E. Procedures for Facilities Only

1. No smoking or tobacco products are allowed within the facilities at any time.

2. Smoking is permitted outside the facility gates in designated areas.

3. Tobacco products may be checked in at the front gate for use during breaks or lunchtime in the designated areas located outside the facility gates.

4. This policy applies to all persons within the facility gates.

5. Signs shall be placed outside the facility gates declaring that the facilities are tobacco-free and smoke-free.

6. All YS facility job applicants shall be informed that the facilities are tobacco-free and smoke-free.

F. Procedures for Implementation (for all YS)

1. Copies of this policy shall be posted in all office workplaces.

2. "No Smoking" signs shall be clearly posted in all areas where smoking is prohibited.

3. The deputy secretary will designate a smoking area for YS Central Office.

4. Regional managers will designate a smoking area for each regional office.

5. Facility directors will designate a smoking area for each facility outside of the secure area of the facility.

6. Facility directors will notify the youth that they will not be allowed to smoke or use tobacco products at any time.

7. It is the responsibility of all employees to adhere to the provisions of this policy and to report any non-compliant activities to the appropriate supervisor.

8. Employees will not be granted additional breaks or additional time on regularly scheduled breaks to access designated smoking areas for the purpose of using tobacco products.

G. Disciplinary Actions

1. Any staff found guilty of non-compliance with this policy will be subject to disciplinary action.

2. Any youth found guilty of non-compliance with this policy will be subject to disciplinary action as tobacco products are considered contraband.

La. Admin. Code tit. 22, § I-719

Promulgated by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Division of Youth Services, Office of Youth Development, LR 32:640 (April 2006).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:1300.21-1300.26 and R.S. 14:91.8.