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News Summary
SMOKING BAN: The Senate's rejection of the House bill leaves the issue hanging
Publication Date: 2007-07-17
- Author:JAN MURPHY
- Publication:Harrisburg (PA) Patriot-News
The state House last night made it clear they want a mostly smoke-free Pennsylvania.
Minutes later, the Senate rejected a House version of a statewide indoor smoking ban, making clear that its vision of a Clean Indoor Air Act was different.
The Senate's action means a House-Senate conference committee will be created to hash out the differences when the Legislature reconvenes in September...
The House, which passed its bill by a bipartisan 141-62 vote, backed a smoking ban that would order most indoor public places, including casinos, restaurants and taverns, to go smoke-free 90 days after the bill becomes law.
It exempted private homes, private clubs such as American Legions and sportsmen's clubs, tobacco-related businesses and a quarter of the rooms in hotels. It also would allow smoking in private residences within nursing homes or assisted-living facilities and at cigar exhibitions.
Municipalities could enact stricter smoking bans...
The Senate appointed its portion of a conference committee, but at press time, the House had not named its members. It was not known when the committee would began its work.