By Rob Moritz
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK — Health officials Tuesday celebrated the third anniversary of laws passed to create smoke-free environments and urged the Legislature to add more restrictive
measures during the 2011 session.
“We should continue to strive for smoke-free laws and strengthening the laws that we do have in Arkansas,” said Katherine Donald, executive director of the Coalition for Tobacco Free Arkansas.
The Arkansas Clean Indoor Air Act took effect July 21, 2006. Passed during a special legislative session, the law banned smoking in most public places, including restaurants.
During the anniversary celebration Tuesday, held at Juanita’s Cafe and Bar in downtown Little Rock, Dr. Carolyn Dressler said the Legislature should prohibit smoking in all public places because numerous studies have shown the dangers of secondhand smoke.
“We need to look at strengthening this already very good law,” said Dressler, chief of the state Department of Health’s Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program. “We’re very fortunate in Arkansas that the Clean Indoor Act covers the majority of venues and therefore we’re able to help the majority of Arkansans, and now let’s move that forward and make that a comprehensive clean air act.”
Dressler said a recent Health Department study found establishments that banned smoking had 88 percent less contaminants in the air than places where the smoking is still allowed, such as bars.
Also three years ago, Act 13 of 2006 took effect. Known as the Arkansas Protection for Secondhand Smoke for Children Act, the law prohibits smoking in passenger vehicles where a child under 6 years old is riding in a child safety seat.
Former state Rep. Bob Mathis Hot Springs, who sponsored the measure, told the gathering of about 30 that he would like to see the law changed to prohibit smoking in passenger vehicles when a child under 18 is present.
Mathis, a former smoker who opposed the workplace smoking ban, pledged to testify at any legislative committee where such a measure is debated. He also advocated raising the fine from $25 to at least $50.
Rep. Fred Allen, D-Little Rock, filed a bill during this year’s session to raise the age to 17. It failed to get out of committee and was approved for interim study.
Health Department spokesman Ed Barham said Tuesday that in the past three years eight people have been issued citations for violating Act 13. Six of those were in Northwest Arkansas and two were in Northeast Arkansas, he said.
Dressler said she has been meeting with law enforcement groups to discuss the law and how it can be enforced.
A spokesman for Gov. Mike Beebe said the governor’s office expects several health-related proposals to be submitted to his office over the next year, including removing exemptions from the Clean Indoor Smoking Act.
“It’s way too early now. We’ll look at them all when the time comes,” Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample said.
