Pennsylvania Could Expand Public Spaces Smoking Ban

PENNSYLVANIA - State lawmakers are considering legislation that would expand the statewide smoking ban in public places to include outdoor spaces, cigar bars, cigar lounges, casinos, private clubs and all bars and drinking establishments.

The bill also seeks to stem the rise in vaping-related illnesses by including e-cigarettes in the ban. It also would permit local governments to approve even tougher smoking prohibitions than the state law.

“Our current law says it’s OK if some people are at risk of getting sick. Well, that’s not ok with me,” said Rep. Dan Frankel, a Pittsburgh Democrat who introduced the bill in the House. “In the 11 years since we banned smoking in most workplaces, it has become even more clear that exposure to second-hand smoke is a health risk that nobody should be asked to take.”

State Sen. Jay Costa, a Pittsburgh-area Democrat who plans to introduce a similar measure in the Senate, said people assume that the Clean Indoor Air Act solved all problems related to second-hand smoke.

" Unfortunately, it did not,” Costa said. “Further, we need to address additional challenges posed by the recent boom in e-cigarette and vaping popularity."

The legislation comes on the heels of state Attorney General Josh Shapiro filing a lawsuit against e-cigarette manufacturer Juul. The lawsuit seeks to take JUUL devices out of production altogether or to impose restrictions on the way the JUUL product is designed,
marketed, and sold.

The lawsuit also wants the company to pay for youth-oriented prevention programs, public health research, and nicotine cessation programs to help abate the harms they’ve already caused.