Statewide smoking ban discussed

Publication Date: 2010-01-19

• Author:Laura Kirtley
• Publication:WLFI Channel 18 (Lafayette, IN)

House Public Policy Committee to hear bill

Legislation that would create a statewide smoking ban goes before a House committee tomorrow.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Indiana now has the second highest smoking rate in the country and adult smoking rates are on the rise. With no statewide smoking ban on the books, Coordinator of the Tobacco Free Partnership of Tippecanoe County Tristan Kirby said it is a challenge to get people to kick the habit...

Kirby said she is optimistic about legislation pending at the Statehouse. On Wednesday, the House Public Policy Committee will hear a bill that would prohibit smoking in public places, workplaces, and some state-owned vehicles. The bill, authored by Representative Charlie Brown of Gary does does gives an exemption for gaming facilities. A similar bill died in the Senate last session.