In the News....
Rep. Karen Yarbrough
(D-Maywood)
(708) 615-1747
E-mail: yarbroug@ilga.gov
May 1, 2007
YARBROUGH’S STATEWIDE SMOKING BAN READY FOR GOVERNOR’S SIGNATURE
SPRINGFIELD– Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Karen Yarbrough (D-Maywood) to ban smoking in most public places passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday, World Asthma Day, and heads to the governor, who has indicated he will likely sign it into law.
“This effort is not about smokers or smokers’ rights,” Yarbrough said. “This bill is about nonsmokers and their right to go out in public and not have dangerous secondhand smoke blown in their faces.”
Senate Bill 500, also known as the Smoke Free Illinois Act, bans smoking in any building fully or partially open to the public and within 15 feet of entrances to such buildings. The measure also bans smoking in places of employment, including areas where employees are required to enter, exit or pass through during the course of employment. Smoking would also be prohibited in student dormitories and buildings where students at public and private universities congregate.
Yarbrough’s bill is aimed at public places and contains exemptions for private residences, private nursing home rooms and certain hotel and motel rooms. Retail tobacco stores that derive at least 80 percent of annual gross revenue from tobacco sales would also be exempt from Yarbrough’s bill. Individuals who violate the provisions of the bill would be fined between $100 and $250. Persons who own a public space found to be in violation of the proposed law would be fined not less than $250 for the first violation, not less than $500 for a second violation within one year, and $2500 for each subsequent violation within one year of the first violation.
“Under this law, smokers will still be allowed to smoke in their homes, in their cars and outside,” Yarbrough said. “What smokers won’t be able to do anymore is hurt the people who work in restaurants and bars, those who work for low pay and often without benefits.”
Senate Bill 500, which is co-sponsored by over 30 House members, now moves to the governor for his signature. For more information, contact Yarbrough’s constituent service office at 708-615-1747.
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