Bill would put smoking ban on ballot

Publication Date: 2008-02-02

• Author:CHRIS GREEN
• Publication:Salina (KS) Journal

After being thwarted in recent years, lawmakers backing a statewide public smoking ban have crafted a new twist this session to bolster the measure.

Under a bill introduced in the Senate this past week, voters would determine in November whether their county prohibits smoking in nearly all public, indoor areas, including privately owned bars and restaurants.

So far, no hearing has been scheduled for the bill, which will be reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The five state senators pushing for the bill believe requiring a county-by-county vote will ease concerns that a statewide ban trumps local controls.