Opinion ID: 2767474
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Purpose of VICAA is to Promote Public Health

Text: The purpose for which a statute is enacted is of primary importance in its interpretation or construction. Virginia Electric & Power Co., 226 Va. at 388, 309 S.E.2d at 311 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). As the dissent below recognized, VICAA is undoubtedly a public health initiative. Kepa II, 62 Va. App. at 630, 751 S.E.2d at 678 (Chafin, J., dissenting). The plain language of VICAA clearly shows that the General Assembly intended VICAA to promote the health of the Commonwealth by reducing exposure to second hand smoke in public places. The enforcement framework buttresses that conclusion. 6 VICAA promotes clean indoor air in public places, and it promotes clean indoor air for the customers and employees of such places. Not all employees have the luxury of working in their preferred work environment, yet they must work, and the General Assembly has determined that they should be able to 6 Under Article 2 of VICAA (Statewide Regulation of Smoking), all fines collected pursuant to its provisions are paid into the Virginia Health Care Fund, which is used solely for the provision of health care services. Code § 32.1-367. And under Article 3 (Local Regulation of Smoking), all fines collected pursuant to local ordinances are paid into local treasury and shall be expended solely for public health purposes. Code § 15.2-2833(D). 19 work in an environment that limits their exposure to second hand smoke if that concerns them. Construing Code § 15.2- 2821(2) broadly to include retail tobacco stores and restaurants would frustrate the purpose of VICAA and roll back its protections for restaurant customers and employees throughout Virginia, and not just in a single hookah bar in Blacksburg.