Health District eyes strict smoking laws

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2001 | 8:38 a.m.

Two years after Clark County's failed attempt to wrest control over smoking restrictions from the state, health officials are preparing a different strategy to influence lawmakers.

Clark County Health District board members have had preliminary discussions about placing an advisory question on the November ballot asking voters whether they would support legislation prohibiting smoking in restaurants.

Health officials are hopeful the ballot question results, combined with a September survey about smoking conducted by the Gallup Organization, might persuade legislators to shift control to local governments.

"We can't make laws stricter regarding tobacco issues than what's done in the state," Jennifer Sizemore, spokeswoman for the Health District, said. "We haven't had much luck with legislators, so we're looking at what other avenues we can pursue."

Sizemore said the ballot question would likely ask voters whether they would like stricter tobacco regulations in restaurants, schools and public places.

The Gallup survey says 90 percent of the respondents -- and 85 percent of the smokers questioned -- said smoking should be banned from school properties.

About 67 percent of those surveyed said they agreed smoking should be prohibited from indoor restaurants; 40 percent of the smokers said they would support such a measure.

Some 79 percent, including 72 percent of the smokers surveyed, believe smoking should be banned from convenience stores, the survey results say.

County officials have argued that their failure to erase Nevada from a list of 13 states that do not allow local government control over tobacco laws is political and not about good policy.

When the county unsuccessfully lobbied the Legislature in 1999, state health officer Randall Todd cited the tobacco industry's lobbyist as a major obstacle. R.J. Reynolds tobacco company has strongly opposed local governments gaining control over restrictions.

With the state in control, the tobacco industry needs to watch the Legislature when it meets every two years rather than the more tedious task of regularly keeping track of four governments.

Sizemore said Health District board members asked staff members to look into options before a final decision is made on the ballot question.