Cleaner Indoor Air in California (Maybe)

[Lionel Mandrake]

Smokefree Workplace Legislation Approved by State

Thursday, June 02, 2011

Senate Bill 575 (DeSaulnier) Closes Loopholes in California Law that Expose Workers to Secondhand Smoke

Today, with a 25-14 vote, the Senate passed SB 575 (DeSaulnier) to strengthen California’s once ground- breaking smokefree workplace law. SB 575 will protect California workers and patrons by eliminating loopholes in the state’s smokefree workplace law.

While once the leader in protecting workers from the toxic effects of secondhand smoke, California has fallen far behind. This is due to the exemptions and loopholes in California’s smokefree workplace law. Because of these loopholes thousands of California workers and patrons of certain businesses continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke.

Read more: http://dist07.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC=%7B13B65B42-29D1-4FC8-B82F-98929C324D88%7D&DE=%7BF6D57FDB-38F0-4F22-9CF7-5284FA338034%7D

SB 575 still must be passed by the Assembly and signed by the Governor before it becomes law.

[Taverner]

1. You mean people in California still smoke in their offices???

That's something I haven't seen since, well, the 80s

[Lionel Mandrake]

3. Yes, some still do.

There have been some improvements in recent decades.

Most offices and restaurants were very smoky in the 1960s. Movie theaters back then had no-smoking signs, and before every movie it was explained to the audience that smoking was a fire hazard. Nevertheless, smokers would light up if they could get away with it. Sometimes the ushers would kick them out.

Restaurants and airplanes eventually had non-smoking sections, but they were ineffective because the air was recirculated. The Tobacco Institute made sure that "indoor air quality" and "sick building syndrome" were usually discussed without reference to cigarette smoke. They paid big bucks to PR firms to make people doubt that smoking caused cancer, was addictive, or was being marketed to children, whom they referred to as "replacement smokers". (Why would older smokers need to be replaced?)

Other newspeak from big tobacco included "accommodation" and "flavor", which sounded innocuous.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Here's the exemption:

SB 575 would remove the current exemptions in the smokefree workplace law that allow smoking in certain areas of a hotel/motel lobby and meeting and banquet rooms, warehouses, breakrooms, businesses with five or fewer employees, owner-operated businesses and other specified locations.

I absolutely agree with this. I think it's an outrage that anyone has to breath second-hand smoke, anywhere. This bill, if it passes (and it should) will take care of that.

Recommended.

[Lionel Mandrake]

4. and here is the full text of SB 575

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_0551-0600/sb_575_bill_20110531_amended_sen_v97.html

[Raine]

5. Absolutely agree with this too! nt

:thumbsup:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. Great minds and all that, my dear Raine! nt

[Lionel Mandrake]

7. Anything the CRA opposes can't be all bad.

First "Cigar Rights of America" weakened the bill; next they will try to kill it in the Assembly.

http://www.cigaradvisor.com/news/laws/amendments-made-to-sb-575-in-california-cigar-shops-and-private-clubs-obtain-critical-exemptions-to-smoking-ban-expansion