Businesses try to smoke out exceptions

Publication Date: 2006-07-20

• Author:Robert J. Smith and Sharon C. Fitzgerald
• Publication:Arkansas Democrat Gazette

The law passed in April by the state Legislature takes effect Friday. Called the Arkansas Clean Indoor Air Act of 2006, it bans smoking in theaters, shopping malls, coin-operated laundries, office buildings, bars, restaurants and any other place of business...

Across Northwest Arkansas, businesses and other public facilities are working to comply with the new statewide indoor smoking ban...

UNDERSTANDING THE LAW
Julie Munsell, a spokesman for the state Department of Health and Human Services, said the agency is worried about misconceptions regarding the law. She said the department fears people will make adjustments to their buildings only to learn those changes don’t comply with the law.

That’s why the department has established a toll-free phone number: (800 ) 235-0002. There’s also a Web site: www. arcleanair. com.

Some businesses wrongly believe they can allow smoking if they have walls separating smokers from nonsmokers and separate ventilation systems, Munsell said.