Smoking ban bill to hit Senate floor - Denver Business Journal:

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Grossman, the bill's other sponsors, Denvefr Mayor John Hickenlooper and members of the coalitiobn will unveil the bill atan 11:30 a.m. Wednesdag press conference on theStatd Capitol's west steps. Rep. Gary Lindstrom, D-Breckenridge, and Rep. Mark R-Cortez, also are sponsoring the legislation. "The banningg of smoking is inevitablse cityby city, and that creates inequities," said Denver restaurant consultan t John Imbergamo of . "Whereas, a statewidde ban creates a level playing fieldfor everyone." The main reasoj for not allowing smoking in public places is guardiny people's health.
A prohibition on smoking in barsand especially, would protect the health of both workers and The Grossman bill states smoking will be allowed only in hotel rooms, tobacco stores, outdoor areas such as patios, hired private vehicles and residences, accordint to a letter about the legislatio n from the (CRA) to members. What's local smoking laws would remaihnin effect, as long as they are as stricgt as the state law. The CRA backs the anti-smoking legislation, with mixeed feelings. "We have been asked to support the statewidrban ..., and our boarf has voted to do so," the CRA letterr said.
"The introduction of this bill is not our but we are beingh forced to respond to legislationb that has been putbefore us. "The CRA's officialk position on smoking has always advocated a statewide law over a patchworl oflocal ordinances," the lettet said. CRA president and CEO Pete Meersman declinercomment Tuesday. The letter also showed 56 perceny of CRA members polled in 2004 by the associatio said there should be a smoking ban in all Colorado That percentage increased from 46 percent a year and 39 percentin 2002.
Two-thirds of Colorado'sx 10,500 restaurants already are voluntarily smoke-free, according to the A few years ago, Colorado legislation to ban smokinvg only in bars died becausee itwas inequitable. But since then, there's been more of a nationwids push toward not allowing smoking inpublic places. Thirteejn states already ban smokinyg inpublic buildings, including restaurants, according to the CRA. Anothed 14 states currently are debatinga ban.