Voices Blogs Beacon Backroom Area legislators announce bill to bar smoking in most public places around state | Area legislators announce bill to bar smoking in most public places around state |
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| By Jo Mannies, Beacon Political Reporter | |
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In an announcement this week, Bivins and co-sponsor Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, say their aim is to create "uniform statewide smoke-free standards in bars and restaurants." But the bill, HB 1766, is generating lots of attention because it goes much further. The measure also would outlaw smoking at public "aquariums, galleries, libraries, and museums,'' as well as sports arenas, convention halls, bingo facilities and "At least eighty percent of hotel and motel rooms that are rented to guests;" (Click here to check out the whole list.) The few exemptions include private residents not used for day-care facilities, tobacco stores, those 20 percent of hotel/motel rooms and "outdoor areas of places of employment." Schupp says she "worked with representatives of the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society to craft the bill prior to the 2010 legislative session to help bring uniformity and certainty to laws regulating smoking in the state. “While other states have taken the lead on improving indoor air quality, Missouri has been among the last holdouts,” Schupp said. “The time has come for uniformity statewide to create a healthy environment in all public places and replace the existing patchwork of local restrictions.” So far, the bill has yet to be assigned to a committee for a hearing.
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Posted 12:30 a.m. Tues., 02.02.10 -- State Rep. Walt Bivins, R-Oakville, is leading a bipartisan cadre of at least 20 legislators who'd like to see smoking banned from most public places by next year.
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