Proposed law would ban smoking at casinos

Publication Date: 2009-01-09

• Author:TESS GRUBER NELSON
• Publication:SouthwestIowaNews.com

The first session of the Iowa General Assembly won't begin until Jan. 12, but individual legislators or state agencies have already approved 49 bills for filing...

Another bill pre-filed by State Rep. Mark Smith, D-Marshalltown, would like to eliminate the exemption of casino gaming floors to Iowa's Smokefree Air Act, which went into affect July 1, 2008.

"From a public health view, I think it is good to remove the exemption from the casino floor," said Free People From Tobacco Outreach Coordinator Judy Boye. "The health of all employees is important whether they work in a restaurant, clothing store, office building or a casino. The law was passed to protect the health of all Iowans. Some people are trapped in the job they have. They should not have to be trapped in a smoke filled room in order to have a job."