Missouri bill would restrict smoking bans

Publication Date: 2012-05-02

• Author:MARGARET GILLERMAN, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
• Publication:Kansas City Star

A Springfield, Mo., legislator is proposing to prohibit Missouri cities and counties from banning smoking in establishments where at least 60 percent of retail sales come from alcohol, tobacco or entertainment.

The legislation, if passed, would mean that many more bars, bowling alleys, bingo halls, billiard parlors and movie theaters, among other businesses, could be exempted from smoke-free ordinances. Casinos would fall into that category.

Restaurants probably would not be affected, said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Melissa Leach, R-Springfield.

The bill, HB 2103, will be heard today by the House Small Business Committee...

Charley Gatton, an advocate of smoking bans, said such a law would harm anti-smoking efforts throughout Missouri.

“This will be a major setback to the employees and patrons of hundreds of businesses,” Gatton said.

Richard Sheets, deputy director and lobbyist for the Missouri Municipal League, said the bill as worded would put limits on existing bans approved by councils or voters themselves.

“It’s a local control issue,” said Sheets, who will speak against the bill at the hearing. “The voters and citizens of a community should decide to what extent their regulation should be. If they want it more stringent, or less, it’s their choice.”...