Smoking ban bill in Senate amended

Publication Date: 2007-03-28

• Author:LAURA CAMPER
• Publication:The State Journal-Register

Measure will push back compliance date for casinos

Calling it a strategic move, the co-sponsor of a Senate bill to ban smoking in all public, indoor workplaces in Illinois, said a new amendment would push back the compliance date for casinos.

"We expect to pick up some votes," Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said. "If you don't pass the bill then the whole thing is a delayed effective date."

Sen. Terry Link, D-Vernon Hills, sponsor of the legislation, said the amendment is a compromise for members who expressed concern about unfair competition for casinos that border other states. When Senate Bill 500 was debated in committee, several senators said those casinos would face unfair competition from states that do not have smoking bans, he said.