MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2017 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Human Services

By: Representative Hines

House Bill 377

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT PERSONS FROM KNOWINGLY SMOKING IN A MOTOR VEHICLE IN WHICH A CHILD WHO IS LESS THAN SIX YEARS OF AGE IS A PASSENGER; TO PROVIDE THAT A VIOLATION OF THIS ACT IS A MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY A FINE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  (1)  This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Protection from Secondhand Smoke for Children Act."

     (2)  As used in this section:

          (a)  "Motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle, except a school bus, a church bus, or other public conveyance, that is required by federal or state law or regulation to be equipped with a passenger restraint system.

          (b)  "Smoke" means inhaling, exhaling, burning, carrying or otherwise possessing any lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe or any other object or device that contains lighted tobacco.

     (3)  A person shall not knowingly smoke in a motor vehicle in which a child who is less than six (6) years of age is a passenger.

     (4)  A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00).

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.