Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 11, 2021 12:05 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Dan Frankel |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Closing Clean Indoor Air Act Loopholes |
| When Pennsylvanians return to their jobs in the entertainment and hospitality industries, many will come with the lasting consequences of a COVID-19 infection. This development makes it more important than ever to join a growing number of states that have permanently banned smoking in workplaces. Public health measures currently in place to limit the spread of the virus have all but ended smoking in most of the public places exempt from Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air Act, providing us with the unique opportunity to seamlessly transition into a state that protects employees from the documented health risks of secondhand tobacco smoke. Therefore, I will be re-introducing legislation to close the loopholes found in the Clean Indoor Air Act, including those that allow smoking in outdoor spaces, casinos, cigar bars, cigar lounges, private clubs, and drinking establishments. My bill will also address the increase in vaping-related illnesses by including the use of e-cigarettes within the definition of smoking, while also giving all localities the ability to enact smoke-free ordinances that are more protective than current state law. With these changes, Pennsylvania will join 36 states that do not preempt local governments from adopting more stringent, smoke-free rules for the health and safety of their residents. Please join me in preserving the health and quality of life of all Pennsylvanians by supporting this important legislation. Previous Co-Sponsors: SCHLOSSBERG, MURT, HILL-EVANS, DeLUCA, OTTEN, HOWARD, BRIGGS, SCHWEYER, SIMS, MADDEN, McCLINTON, WILLIAMS, ISAACSON, ZABEL, COMITTA, MALAGARI, D. MILLER, O'MARA and MULLINS |