Protect Local Control

Ensuring Community Rights
To Pass Smokefree Ordinances
 

State Status

Any Preemption

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.

Copyright 2019 Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights | All Rights ReservedPrivacy Policy