State beaches and parks: smoking ban.

Existing law makes it an infraction for a person to smoke a cigarette, cigar, or other tobacco product within 25 feet of a playground or tot lot sandbox area. This bill would make it an infraction for a person to smoke, as defined, at any picnic area designated by a posted sign or any other means by the Department of Parks and Recreation on a state coastal beach or in a unit of the state park system or to dispose of used cigar or cigarette waste at these designated picnic areas, with certain exceptions, as specifically provided. The bill would establish a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime. This bill would require the department to develop and post signs at the main entrances to state coastal beaches that are under the jurisdiction of the department and units of the state park system to provide notice of the smoking prohibition. The bill would require the smoking prohibition to be enforced only after signs have been posted. The bill would authorize the Director of Parks and Recreation to designate, by posted order, areas within units of the state park system as exempt from these provisions. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.