No Smoking Bill Advances In AL Legislature

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Legislation to ban smoking in the
workplace and most public places has won approval from an Alabama
Senate committee.
The Senate Education Committee voted 7-1 for the bill Thursday.
The bill, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Vivian Davis Figures of
Mobile, now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Figures said she is optimistic about Senate approval because the
bill has received a wide range of endorsements, including the
Senate Democratic Caucus.
Her bill would prohibit smoking in all workplaces and nearly all
public places, including restaurants. Entities exempted would
include bars that derive no more than 20 percent of their revenue
from food; hotel or motel rooms designated as smoking; private
clubs; nursing home or long-term care facility rooms in certain
situations; tobacco retail stores; and cigar bars.

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