Expanded no-smoking zones passed by House

Publication Date: 2012-04-17

• Author:Ed Anderson
• Publication:The Times-Picayune

Smoking would be banned within 25 feet of handicapped ramps and entrances to public and private buildings where smoking is already outlawed inside, the House said Monday. Representatives voted 81-12 for House Bill 378 by Rep. Frank Hoffmann, R-West Monroe, sending it to the Senate for more debate.

Hoffmann said that any building that is exempt from the ban on smoking -- including gambling establishments, bars and private homes -- would also be exempt from the 25-foot no-smoking zone.

Hoffmann said that "mounting scientific evidence" shows that "there is no risk-free level of exposure to second-hand smoke." The bill started out also banning smoking within at least 25 feet of an "operable window and a ventilation system" of buildings, but that was stricken in a House committee last week.

Hoffmann said the bill allows the owners or managers of buildings to ban smoking more than 25 feet from the ramps or entrances to the buildings and post signs designating the area where the ban is in effect...