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For Immediate
Release
1/31/07
CONTACT:
PA
Senate Republican Communications
(717) 787-6725
Greenleaf Smokefree Workplace Bill Approved by
Committee
AUDIO
HARRISBURG – The Senate Public Health and Welfare
Committee moved forward legislation sponsored by Sen.
Stewart J. Greenleaf to provide smokefree workplaces
and public places in Pennsylvania.
Greenleaf has introduced similar legislation for more
than a decade, but the committee's 9-2 vote represents
the first time legislative action was taken on such a
measure. The Senate Public Health and Welfare
Committee held a public hearing in September 2005 on
the smokefree workplace bill that Greenleaf offered
last session.
At least 16 other states have enacted laws prohibiting
smoking in virtually all indoor workplaces. Hundreds
of municipalities, including several in Pennsylvania,
have enacted similar ordinances.
Greenleaf said that he is encouraged by the
committee's action on Senate Bill 246. He noted that
several surveys in recent years have demonstrated
overwhelming public support for a smokefree workplace
law. "This is a proposal that, if enacted, can help
to improve public health for many citizens in the
commonwealth," he said.
The legislation provides a comprehensive definition of
workplace and provides a list of examples of public
places. It specifically exempts private residences
except for those used as child day care, adult day
care or health care facilities. It also exempts
tobacco shops and the workplaces of manufacturers,
importers and wholesalers of tobacco products. Hotels
and motels would be able to designate 25 percent of
their rooms for rent as smoking rooms.
The senator said that concerns raised about loss of
revenues in eating and drinking establishments as the
result of smokefree laws has been countered by studies
that show revenues of restaurants and bars holding
steady or growing by as much as 7 to 9 percent after
such laws have gone into effect. Also, the health of
workers in bars and restaurants is an issue, since
waiters and waitresses have been found to have a much
greater risk of lung cancer than employees in other
workplaces.
The U.S. Surgeon General's Report in 2006 declared
that there are no safe levels of secondhand smoke and
that even trace amounts can cause damaging effects to
those exposed to it. The report concluded that
exposure of nonsmokers to tobacco smoke increases
their risk of heart disease and cancer buy as much as
30 percent and that even brief exposure increases
health risks to people with heart and respiratory
diseases.
The senator said that, after years of working on the
issue, he is gratified by the quick action by Sen.
Edwin B. Erickson, the chairman of the Senate Public
Health and Welfare Committee in bringing up the bill
for a vote, as well as by the support expressed
recently by the Governor for smokefree workplaces.
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