Smoking ban advances

Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004 | 9:38 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A casino- and bar-backed initiative petition to put some further limitations on smoking in public places has passed another hurdle.

The secretary of state's office said Tuesday a count by the counties showed the petition had 93,526 signatures. It needs 51,337 signatures of registered voters to qualify for submission to the 2005 Legislature.

The 93,525 is even more than the sponsors of the petition said when they turned it in. They said they had 87,613 signatures.

The counties will now have to verify the signatures are those of registered voters.

The petition would bar smoking in dining areas within restaurants, on school property, in hospitals, movie theaters, concert halls, government building, grocery stores and drug and convenience stores.

It would permit smoking in casinos, bars, strip clubs, brothels, private residences including hotel and motel rooms and grocery or drug stores that have non-restricted gambling licenses.

The petition is for the Responsibly Protect Nevadans from Second-hand Smoke Act.

The counties are still counting the signatures on two other initiative petitions. One, supported by health groups, would put even more limits on smoking, and the other would permit adults to possess up to one ounce of marijuana.

If all three qualify, they would be submitted to the 2005 Legislature. If the Legislature does not approve the measures, they would go on the 2006 election ballot.