House committee OKs broad ban on workplace, public smoking

Publication Date: 2007-03-20

• Author:AP
• Publication:FayObserver.com, Fayetteville NC

A state House committee gave its blessing today to a bill that would impose a broad ban on smoking at businesses and public places across North Carolina.

The panel voted nine to four in favor of the measure, which would ban smoking in all but a few places -- such as private homes, tobacco shops, smoking rooms in hotels and private, nonprofit clubs.

Lawmakers debated whether the measure infringed on the rights of private property owners. Some said business owners should be able to decide how to run their own enterprise. But others said it's a question of protecting the health of workers who don't want to be exposed to smoke on the job -- in the same way that they're already covered by other workplace safety rules.

The measure now goes to the full House for consideration.