Smoking Banned in (some) Public Places

Finally, after much to do, the Pennsylvania General Assembly has passed a smoking ban. A compromise bill, devised by a Conference Committee of House and Senate Democrats and Republicans, passed the House last week and passed the Senate yesterday on its second consideration. The new bill bans smoking in public places but includes a host of exceptions.

The legislation states, “Except as set forth under subsection (b), an individual may not engage in smoking in a public place. Nothing in this act shall preclude the owner of a public or private property from prohibiting smoking on the property.”

Exceptions to this rule are as follows:
1. Private residences and vehicles (unless used for child care services)
2. 25% of hotel/motel rooms
3. Tobacco shops*
4. Workplaces where tobacco-related products are manufactured
5. Designated spaces in long-term care, residential treatment and day treatment facilities
6. Private clubs (except when open to public)
7. Exhibition/conference space when used for a public event involving promoting/sampling tobacco products
8. Cigar bars*
9. Drinking establishments*^
10. 25% of the gaming floor at a licensed facility
11. Designated outdoor area at a sports or entertainment facility

*in order to be exempted, these establishments must submit a letter and supporting documentation for approval

^Drinking establishments are defined in the legislation under Section 2: Definitions. The definition includes the qualification “has total annual sales of food sold for on- premises consumption of less than or equal to 20% of the combined gross sales of the establishment,” that we have been hearing about.

You can give your opinion on the new ban in today’s online PG poll and by leaving a comment on this post.