Smoking under fire in state Senate

Publication Date: 2009-02-03

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

Public health and welfare panel to debate bill that bans smoking inside public places

A proposed statewide ban on smoking inside most public places could soon become eligible for a debate on the Kansas Senate floor.

The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee is scheduled today to mull over a bill that would prohibit lighting up in bars, restaurants and nearly all places of employment.

For the measure to pass out of the committee, a majority of the nine-member panel would have to back the legislation. At least five senators on the health panel figure to be strong supporters of the proposal, because they've firmly backed similar state-level limits in the past.