Nevada panel considers widespread smoking ban

Tuesday, March 18, 2003 | 10:44 a.m.

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Smoking would be banned in all Nevada restaurant, arcade and grocery store areas, under a proposal reviewed Tuesday by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

AB96, proposed by Clark County, also would let county boards of health implement more stringent anti-smoking requirements than those established under state law.

The bill would completely ban smoking on any school property, in public malls, retail stores or movie theaters. It would also require smokers to be at least 100 feet away from public buildings before lighting up.

Casino gambling areas and taverns would be exempt.

Helen Foley, a lobbyist for the Clark County Health District, said the bill is aimed at removing secondhand smoke from areas where children are often present.

Foley said it's also a response to two ballot questions during the 2002 general election that dealt with smoking around children and controls that counties have over their smoking restrictions.

Between Clark and Washoe counties, 57 percent of voters said counties should have more control, and 67 percent said smoking should be banned in areas frequented by children, Foley said.

Dr. Mary Guinan, the state's former health officer, told the committee that there's no question among doctors that secondhand smoke is a health hazard.

The Environmental Protection Agency 10 years ago classified secondhand smoke as a Class A carcinogen. Secondhand smoke contains 4,000 substances, 43 of which are cancer-causing.

Guinan also said that smoke lingers and spreads, no matter what is done to abate it.

Guinan told the committee students at a Washoe County high school are working on an anti-smoking commercial that says having a smoking section in a store is like having a urinating area in a pool.

Sean Higgins, president of the Nevada Retail Gaming Association, took exception to that.

He pointed out that in 1999, the Legislature passed a law giving retail establishments with slot machines until 2010 to install ventilation systems to help reduce the effects of secondhand smoke.

Higgins presented an environmental study of those establishments that have already retrofitted with a ventilation system. The study showed that amounts of nicotine and particulate matter in the air were below testable levels in those stores. His association paid for the study.

Bill Gregory, a lobbyist for Station Casinos Inc., said he supports the bill, but would like to see casino restaurants exempt and see the state to retain control of regulations.

"We would respectfully say the legislation currently in place is doing its job," Gregory said.

The committee also heard AB154, banning smoking on school grounds, and AB202, banning smoking in grocery stores. The committee took no action any of the bills.