February 11, 2009

State Lawmakers Extinguish Smoking Ban Opt-Out Measure

Associated Press

Nebraska lawmakers have buried a plan to let cities and villages opt out of the statewide smoking ban that will go into effect in June.

On Wednesday, the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee voted to kill the opt-out measure (LB611) Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber proposed.

Lawmakers considered a different opt-out clause last year, but rejected the idea.

Under Karpisek's plan, city councils or county boards could have voted to put the issue on the ballot, or voters could have put it on the ballot by petition.

The smoking ban will apply to smoking in all workplaces in the state except for retail tobacco shops and places where smoking research is done. Hotel rooms are also exempted.

See the entire article at: KOLNKGIN.com