Committee rejects smoking ban bill

Publication Date: 2010-05-26

• Author:MARSHA SHULER
• Publication:Baton Rouge (LA) Advocate

A House panel rejected a Senate-passed measure Tuesday that would have banned smoking in Louisiana bars and casinos -- likely ending the battle in the 2010 legislative session.

The state Health and Welfare Committee voted 8-4 to involuntarily defer the legislation.

In recent years, the committee has been a graveyard for bills that sought to expand Louisiana's Smoke Free Air Act. Earlier in the session, the same panel rejected a much less-restrictive bill that would have required casinos to have non-smoking areas.