Statewide smoking ban snuffed out once again

Publication Date: 2010-03-03

• Author:Jon Seidel
• Publication:Chicago Post-Tribune

A statewide smoking ban won't happen in Indiana this year, but the Republican chairwoman of a joint committee says it might be considered in 2011.

Language to ban smoking in public places, enclosed areas of employment and state-owned vehicles was stripped from a Senate bill in a conference committee Tuesday, killing the effort for the session.

The House added the no-smoking provision to the bill last week.

The committee took up the bill, which deals with several public health matters, because the no-smoking language was added after it received Senate approval. Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, authored the amendment.

Sen. Patricia Miller, R-Indianapolis and committee chairwoman, said leaders in her chamber decided not to consider the smoking ban language.