State weighs expanding smoking ban

Publication Date: 2008-06-13

• Author:David Anderson
• Publication:ENCtoday.com

New bill would ban all smoking within 50 feet of state-owned buildings

Smokers have already been banished to the outer reaches of public buildings, and if the bill currently making its way through the state legislature passes, they will be pushed out even further.

The legislation, titled House Bill 2253, was filed on May 19. It restricts smoking to 50 feet or more from the entrance of any state-owned or leased building to protect visitors and employees from second-hand smoke...

The bill also gives local governments the authority to enact the same ban for their public buildings if they choose...

HB 2253 is one of three smoking-related bills currently before the legislature. HB 2254 gives the state's community college trustees the authority to craft smoking restrictions as they see fit - smoking can be banned in college buildings, on campus, in college-owned vehicles and at school-sponsored events.

The third bill, HB 2252, bans smoking in all state-owned vehicles and gives local officials the authority to do the same for their vehicles.

All three House bills, and their Senate counterparts, are still in the committee stage as of Thursday, according to the state legislature's website.