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News Summary

Smoking ban may not exempt some private clubs

Publication Date: 2007-03-29
  • Author:Laura Smitherman
  • Publication:Baltimore (MD) Sun

A top Maryland senator predicted yesterday that a statewide smoking ban would not exempt private clubs such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, even though his chamber has approved such a provision.

Sen. Thomas M. Middleton, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which handled the legislation, said senators would likely agree to drop language exempting private clubs with employees. But clubs where members or volunteers serve themselves beverages or food still wouldn't fall under the smoking ban.

Members of the Senate and House of Delegates are set to negotiate a compromise measure after both chambers in recent days passed bills to ban smoking in bars and restaurants. Those establishments were not covered when the state prohibited lighting up in most workplaces more than a decade ago.

The two bills diverge over which places would be exempted, and a conference committee must settle the differences if the ban is to become law.

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