Yesterday, a bill was introduced into the State House, calling for work places across Alaska to be smoke free.
Rep. Lindsey Holmes of Anchorage is the bill sponsor.
Rep. Holmes: “Approximately half of the people in the state of Alaska are currently living in communities that have smoke free work places on the books. There are a lot of areas of Alaska that actually can’t do that. The way our health powers are, it’s a little strange. There actually are a lot of communities in Alaska that don’t have the option to vote locally for this. And so this would put it on the books, it would protect all Alaskans who are in the work place from second hand smoke.”
The proposed bill will be heard by the Health and Social Services and Judiciary Committees. It would ban smoking in workplaces and public areas (including public transportation). Smoking near the entrance to a workplace or bar would also be restricted.
Soldotna Senator Peter Micciche has introduced a companion bill in the Senate.