Smoke-free law dies during legislative session

Publication Date: 2016-06-05

• Author:Kelly Sullivan
• Publication:Kenai Peninsula Online

The Kenai Peninsula along with the rest of Alaska will not collectively become smoke-free, at least this year.

The "Take it Outside Act," or SB1, sponsored by Sen. Peter Micchiche, R-Soldotna, that would have banned the use of tobacco products including e-cigarettes in the workplace statewide was blocked by Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage during the legislative session...

The "Take it Outside Act" was introduced for the first time in 2014, and made it through two of the three necessary Senate committees, but not onto the floor for a final vote, she said. This time around, the Senate version passed in the Senate and both the Senate and House versions moved through the House until LeDoux stalled both bills by refusing to schedule them in the House Judiciary Committee, she said.

"There was nowhere else for the smoke-free bill to go because the committee chair was holding up the process," Nenon said.

Sen. Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage, amended the smoke-free act and tacked it onto a bill that was sponsored by LeDoux on the last night of the regular session, Nenon said. LeDoux withdrew her House bill before it was put to a vote, she said...