Bill expanded to prohibit smoking in most buildings

Publication Date: 2006-06-06

• Author:Ed Anderson
• Publication:New Orleans (LA) Times Picayune

It originally applied only to cars with kids

A bill banning smoking in moving vehicles with young children inside was broadened and passed by the Senate on Monday to ban smoking in all restaurants, offices and most other buildings.

The Senate unanimously went along with a four-page set of amendments by Sen. Rob Marionneaux, D-Livonia, expanding the narrow House Bill 1010 by Rep. Gary Smith, D-Norco, into the far-reaching prohibition. The amended Smith bill passed 31-3 and now heads to the House for approval of the Senate's changes.

The House approved the narrower bill weeks ago, and Marionneaux said he spoke with Smith and secured the sponsor's approval for Monday's changes.

If the House fails to go along with the Senate changes, the bill goes to a House-Senate compromise committee to work out differences in the two versions.

"This bill just got a little bit better," said Sen. Joel Chaisson II , D-Destrehan, the Senate handler of Smith's bill. "Send it over to the House for an up-or-down vote" on smoking.