Smoking ban exemption measures put on hold

Publication Date: 2008-02-14

• Publication:Peoria Journal Star, IL

Several bills to broaden exemptions to the state's indoor smoking ban were put on hold for at least a week.

A House committee was scheduled to hear the bills Wednesday, but Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, asked the bill sponsors to hold them.

Rep. Randy Ramey Jr. said he was told the speaker wants to remove an exemption for riverboat casinos from a bill Ramey is sponsoring.

The Carol Stream Republican wants to give specific businesses the option of buying special licenses that will allow their patrons to smoke inside. In addition to casinos, Ramey wants to let private clubs, adult entertainment venues and bars that do less than 10 percent of their business in food sales buy such licenses.