Pennsylvania State Rep. Dan Frankel recently introduced HB 1657, which would expand the state’s Clean Indoor Air Act to include a ban on smoking at all workplaces and public spaces—including the state’s commercial casinos, bars and private clubs. The bill also would prohibit the use of e-cigarettes.
Frankel told PlayPA he expects the legislation to pass with bipartisan support by the end of this year. A similar bill failed last year.
In a statement, Rivers Casino dealer and Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) Pennsylvania Co-leader Jen Rubolino said, “We thank Representative Frankel for introducing legislation that we know will save our lives. Too many of us have been left to deal with the dangerous effects of secondhand smoke including cancer, asthma and heart disease. That’s why we launched CEASE Pennsylvania last year, to end this outdated business practice that makes us dread coming to work. It’s time to finally close the casino smoking loophole to protect our health. We urge lawmakers to pass this bill as soon as possible.”
A coalition including Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, American Cancer Action Network and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids also released a statement.
It read, “We thank Representative Frankel for his tireless commitment to ending indoor smoking in public places and protecting workers from being exposed to the life-threatening dangers of secondhand smoke. The data shows that casinos without indoor smoking not only protect health, they also perform better because they appeal to the vast majority of potential guests who prefer a smoke-free environment. State lawmakers across the country are considering similar legislation to close the casino smoking loophole and we encourage the Keystone State to swiftly pass HB 1657. No one should be forced to choose between their health and their paycheck.”
