Statehouse Smoking Debate May Not Be Over

Publication Date: 2012-08-27

• Author:Eric Berman
• Publication:wibc.com

Indiana's statewide smoking ban is just a couple of months old, but legislators may revisit the issue next year.

The Indiana Chamber supported the smoking ban, and has set a goal of lowering smoking rates over the next 13 years. President Kevin Brinegar says the state's high proportion of smokers translates to higher health costs for employers...

The Chamber is also considering whether to ask legislators to close a loophole in the smoke-free workplace law which took effect July 1. Some union contracts include so-called smoking shacks -- bus hut-like structures on company property which appear to be exempt from the ban because they're open on one side. Neither the Chamber nor the AFL-CIO has taken a stand on that issue yet.