An act that would place a statewide ban on smoking in workplaces will be put before voters in November, an Ohio state senator said.
I don't expect us to (act)
said Ohio Senate Majority Leader Bill Harris, R-Ashland.
Without legislative action, The Smoke Free Workplace Act, an initiative statute, will appear before Ohio voters on the November ballots, said SmokeFreeOhio spokeswoman Wendy Simpkins, who works for the American Cancer Society.
Other organizations supporting the act are The American Lung Association, The American Heart Association, The Ohio State Medical Association, The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, The Ohio Hospital Association, The Association of Ohio Health Commissioners and the American Cancer Society.
We're kind of in a lull right now Simpkins said. The initiative statute process involves first gathering signatures on the petition, having the signatures verified - said Skipper's Bar and Grill owner Joel Schectman. It's taking choice away.
Schectman, who also owns The Blue Gator, said he thinks the outdoor patio at Skipper's will remain an area for customers to legally smoke. The proposed act allows several exceptions such as patios, though if windows or doors do not prevent the migration of smoke into the interior of a building, the patio will then be considered part of the building.
Other exemptions include private residences, family-owned and operated businesses, specially designated areas of nursing homes, retail tobacco stores, sleeping rooms in hotels and the burning of incense during a religious ceremony.
The exemptions must meet more criteria; for example, private residences cannot be smoking sites during hours of operation as a child-care facility, and hotels cannot designate more than 20 percent of the rooms as smoking allowed.
I think it would probably hurt business
said manager of The Pub, Tom VanDyke. I don't know why they don't let private establishments choose for themselves. It's a popular political thing
but it's like they're shoving it down our throats.
He added that the increase in foot traffic out front, as patrons leave to smoke would create a whole bunch of mess.
Other groups, such as RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company and the Ohio Licensed Beverage Association, have been working to keep the initiative from dominating the November ballot.
One of the tactics of opponents is to do something called preemption
said Shelly Kiser, a spokeswoman for SmokeFreeOhio at The American Lung Association.
Preemption is the strategy of limiting the power of a statewide smoking ban, which the Smoke Free Workplace Act avoids by including a section that does not constrain localities from adding more restrictions.
If a local ordinance wants to go above and beyond this
they can
she said.
The Ohio Licensed Beverage Association has publicly opposed the act since its inception and is in the beginning phase of developing its own legislation.
First of all
the (Ohio Licensed Beverage Association) has tried to work with the General Assembly and is now considering putting a legislation on the ballot
said Jacob Evans, the vice-president for government affairs for the association.
The group has tried to reach a compromise with groups like SmokeFreeOhio, but they don't care to work with us
he said. Its act would recommend many of the same changes, but would exempt restaurants, bars and other hospitality-based places.
You've got to meet the needs of your clientele
