Statewide smoking ban starts on July 1

Publication Date: 2010-02-26

• Author:JEANNINE KORANDA AND FRED MANN
• Publication:The Wichita Eagle

Kansas will go smoke-free indoors on July 1, after a narrow vote Thursday sent a smoking ban to the governor's desk.

The ban includes restaurants, bars, workplaces and other public spaces. It would permit smoking in a few places, including private clubs, tobacco shops and the gaming floors of state-owned casinos.

It overrides less-strict local smoking bans, including Wichita's partial ban.

"You are making a legacy vote to let all Kansans breathe clean air," said Rep. Charlie Roth, R-Salina, who carried the bill onto the House floor, shortly before the 68-54 vote.

The Senate had passed the bill, Senate substitute for House Bill 2221, during the last session.

Gov. Mark Parkinson, a Democrat, pushed for the ban to pass this year and called the vote a victory.

"Today's success took many years and many struggles, but thanks to a bipartisan coalition in the legislature, the tireless efforts of our state's health advocates and the support of the Kansas people, this legislation will soon become law," he said in a written statement.