Senate advances bill to let cities, counties ban smoking on their properties

Publication Date: 2013-03-14

• Author:BARBARA HOBEROCK
• Publication:Tulsa World

The state Senate passed a measure Wednesday that would allow cities and counties to ban smoking on properties they own or operate.

Senate Bill 501 by Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Ardmore, heads to the House for consideration after securing Senate approval by a vote of 44-1.

Simpson said the measure would apply to parks, libraries, baseball fields, golf courses, soccer fields and other properties.

Sen. Ralph Shortey, R-Oklahoma City, cast the lone vote against the measure.

He said he has some issues with letting cities and counties ban smoking in parks and on golf courses and "allowing municipalities to discriminate against someone using a legal product."

"I think there is a certain place in government that government protects the free choices of people," Shortey said.

The issue would be left up to local governing bodies, Simpson said...