Created on 01-24-2013

Draft  
 
Chapter 57 - Travis County Tobacco-Free Campus/Worksite Policy 
 
 
57.001  
Authority. Travis County (“County”) is authorized to restrict the use of Tobacco 
Products and tobacco-related activities pursuant to: Texas Constitution, Article V, Section 18 
(powers and jurisdiction over all county business); Texas Local Government Code, Section 
291.001 (authority to maintain public buildings); Texas Health and Safety Code, Section 121.003 
(authority to provide for general health); Texas Health and Safety Code, Section 121.003(a) 
(authority to enforce any law reasonably necessary to protect the public health); and other 
applicable statutes, laws and ordinances. 
 
57.002. Purpose.  
 
 
(a)  
Healthy Worksite.  County is committed to providing a safe and healthy worksite 
and to promoting the health and well-being of its employees clients and visitors utilizing County 
Facilities.  
 
 
(b)  
Employee Assistance. County is also committed to providing all assistance 
possible, within the resources available to County, for County Employees in order to assist those 
individuals desiring to stop the use of Tobacco Products. County Employees are encouraged to 
contact the County Wellness Clinic and/or HR to pursue such assistance. 
 
57.003  
Definitions. As used in this Travis County Tobacco-Free Campus/Worksite 
Policy (“Policy”), the following words will have the meaning assigned in this Section 57.003: 
 
 (a) 
 
“Covered Individuals” means all persons entering County Facilities including 
but not limited to employees, invitees, subcontractors, clients, or visitors. 
 
 (b) 
 
“Employees” means all persons hired or engaged by County to provide services 
for Travis County and not working as an independently contracted business, including regular 
employees (whether full-time or part-time), temporary employees, volunteers and interns. 
 
 (c)  
“Facilities” Unless otherwise specified in writing, “Facilities” include all property 
that is owned, leased or controlled by County for the purpose of conducting its business, 
including but not limited to:  
 
 
   
(c-i) 
all enclosed property;  
 
   
(c-ii)  indoor and outdoor open space within or between enclosed facilities [not 
 
including that space located outside the facility - i.e., public sidewalks, walkways, etc. 
 
unless covered by (c-iii)];  
  (c-iii) 
all 
outside 
areas 
within fifteen (15) feet of a doorway or window that can 
 be 
opened; 
 
Created on 01-24-2013

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(c-iv)  County owned or leased vehicles in all locations;  
  (c-v) 
private 
vehicles 
located 
on 
County property (owned or leased);  
 
 
(c-vi)  garages and parking lots;  
 
 
(c-vii)  worksites occupied by County Employees, as to those Employees;  
 
 
(c-viii) and all other facilities as indicated by authorized signage indicating it is a 
 tobacco-free 
area. 
 
 
This Policy will only apply to leased property/facilities to the extent that the owner of the 
property/facility does not object. Unless otherwise specified, this Policy applies to all County 
Facilities, regardless of the Employees housed in or activities pursued in that Facility. 
 
 (c)  
“Secondhand smoke” means tobacco smoke from any Tobacco Product that is 
exhaled by smokers or is given off by burning tobacco and is inhaled by persons nearby.” 
 
 (d)  
“Tobacco Product” means any product made, derived from or containing 
tobacco including, but not limited to: cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, and pipe 
tobacco. This also includes any component, part or accessory of any of the above and any 
product which, to the observer, appears to be a Tobacco Product (i.e., water vapor “cigarettes” 
and similar products). 
 
57.004  
Tobacco Product Use Prohibited.  
 
 
(a)  
Prohibition. Use of Tobacco Products is not permitted at any time by Employees 
or Covered Individuals within the limits of all County Facilities.   
 
 
(b)  
No Designated Areas. There will be no designated smoking areas within 
Facilities. 
 
 
(c)  
Littering. Littering of tobacco-related products on the grounds of parking areas 
(lots, garages, driveways) is also prohibited.  
 
 
(d)  
Surrounding Areas.  County strives to be a good neighbor in the community, and 
as such, discourages the use of Tobacco Products on the property of nearby businesses and 
residences. 
 
57.005  
Enforcement -  
 
 
(a)  
Compliance. Compliance with the tobacco-free campus policy is mandatory for 
all Employees and Covered Individuals  
 
 
(b)  
Communication of Policy. The prohibitions under this Policy will be clearly 
communicated in all County Facilities by appropriate signage designed and installed by County; 
written copies of the Policy provided to all Employees; written copies of the Policy provided to 
Covered Individuals as requested or determined necessary by County; by publication on the 
County website; and by other means as determined necessary by County.  
 
Created on 01-24-2013

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