Smokin' Kills

Smoke Free Illinois Act passes HouseBy Jessica Gray
jgray@bcrnews.com
Thursday, May 3, 2007 1:02 AM CDT

If Gov. Rod Blagojevich signs into law the Smoke Free Illinois Act, which passed in the House Tuesday by a 73-42 vote, smoking would be prohibited in public places, places of employment, and governmental vehicles as well as 15 feet from entrances, exits, windows that open and ventilation intakes that serve an enclosed area. (BCR photo/Kevin Marsh)

The Illinois House of Representatives passed the Smoke Free Illinois Act by a vote of 73-42 Tuesday and it is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who has come out in support of the bill.

On March 29, the Illinois Senate voted 34 to 23 to approve the act. If Blagojevich signs the bill it will come into effect Jan. 1, 2008.

The act will prohibit smoking in public places, places of employment and governmental vehicles. It requires a “no smoking” sign to be posted and ashtrays removed in each public place and place of employment where smoking is prohibited.

The act also prohibits smoking in student dormitories owned by a public or private school institution. The act also prohibits smoking within a minimum distance of 15 feet from entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation intakes that serve an enclosed area where smoking is prohibited. It does, however, make exceptions for some hotel rooms and tobacco shops.

“I’m so excited and the margin it passed by is really exciting. I heard we needed 60 to pass and we got 73, so that’s great,” said Ellen Parks, chairman of the American Cancer Society’s Northern Illinois Regional Board.

Parks said they were so excited the act had made it through the House, she was a little unsure of what their next step would be.

“I’m sure the American Cancer Society would offer help to smoking businesses in the coming months, but right now we’re just waiting to see what will happen,” she said.

If Blagojevich signs the bill, Illinois will become the 19th state with a smoking ban law in place.

“Let me see the bill, but it sure sounds to me like that would be something I will enthusiastically sign,” Blagojevich said Tuesday morning. “And I would be shocked if there was something in that bill that I didn’t like that would keep me from signing it.”

Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Galesburg, who also represents a portion of Bureau County, voted against the ban.

“I certainly considered all aspects of the bill, the pros and cons, and I voted no. Now, I am a non-smoker, I do not like smoking and I don’t think you should be able to smoke in certain public places but I thought this went too far,” Moffitt said.

Moffitt said he thought there should have been an exemption for private clubs — VFWs, legion halls and bars.

“Those are the people who fought for this country and now the long arm of the government is going to reach into those private clubs and prevent them from smoking. I think it exceeded what good government should do,” he said.

Moffitt was also concerned over the lack of an exemption for prisons; cigarettes are often used as a form of currency there. Moffitt put forth an amendment exempting prisons but it failed in committee meetings.

“If the prisons are already over-crowded and understaffed, it could be enough to make a dangerous situation even more serious. It could create an added problem. I’ve heard that from prison guards,” he said.

Moffitt said he thought the vote would be close and was surprised at the margin it passed by. He believed the governor would sign it fairly quickly.

“They have up to 30 days to get it to the governor’s desk, but with this one I think it will get there more quickly, and once he gets it he can take up to 60 days to sign it. I think he will act on it pretty promptly,” he said.

Parks suggested businesses could start offering smoke-free products to aid those employees who smoke and wish to quit. In November, six area hospitals in Princeton, Spring Valley, Ottawa, Peru, Mendota, and Streator all went smoke-free, enacting a total tobacco use ban on their properties.

“When that happened (St. Margaret’s Health) offered free nicotine patches and smoking cessation classes to help employees who wanted to quit. We also made sure our insurance carrier covered the latest smoking cessation medication,” said Parks, who works as an oncology nurse at the hospital.

Parks said offering employees alternate activities, such as a work-out room, may help to keep their mind off smoking.