Senate Bill 209 sponsor Senator Peter Micciche of Soldotna presented the bill and it’s changes to the Senate State Affairs Committee.
SB 209 would prohibit smoking in most workplaces but changes to the bill introduced to the Committee include allowing an opt out for municipalities and removing stand alone tobacco only shops from jurisdiction.
Micciche said government has a role in regulating smoking to maintain public health and to control health care costs.
Sen. Micciche: “Just as it’s appropriate for government to set safety standards in automobiles, electrical codes for wiring, requirements for infant and child carrier seats, whether or not its appropriate for the state to require safe working conditions free of second hand smoke is a discussion here. Public safety.”
In his supporting argument for the bill, Senator Micciche stated that second-hand smoke is linked to five times more deaths than drunk driving.
Soldotna resident Gary Superman testified to the Committee and disputed that statistic.
Superman: “Most of the science, not most of it but I would suggest that the people on the committee look at this, some of us do call it junk science.”
Jill Lewis with the State Division of Public Health testified also.
Lewis: “Public health has long said that second hand is a dangerous thing.”
The State Affairs Committee moved the bill with some suggestions to amendments.
SB 209 and it’s companion bill in the House both have two more committees to move through during the last two weeks of session.