From: Whipple, Deb (GOV)
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2009
5:09 PM
Subject: What the Governor is talking about today
What the Governor’s Talking about
Today
Friday, December 18, 2009
Governor Signs Smoking Ban
Legislation
This afternoon the governor signed legislation that
will prohibit smoking in public places such as restaurants, bars and hotels, or
any place that serves food or beverages. The Ron M. Davis Law, named after
the late chief medical officer of the Michigan Department of Public Health,
takes effect May 1, 2010, and will make Michigan the 38th state to ban smoking
in public places.
The governor signed the legislation during a
ceremony inside the Michigan Brewing Company, a downtown Lansing
restaurant. State Senator Ray Basham (D-Taylor), a longtime advocate for
the smoking ban, spoke briefly along with bill sponsor State Representative Lee
Gonzales (D-Flint) and State Senator Ron Jelinek (R-Three Oaks). She
thanked all of the legislators present for the strong bipartisan support that
the smoking ban received.
The governor noted that about 53,000
people die annually from second smoke, 2,500 of them in Michigan.
“For Michigan’s health, this was important for our
future,” the governor said. “Thank you to all of those who have been
fighting for this for years.”
Key messages:
• The governor has long supported a smoking
ban, repeatedly calling for one in her State of the State
addresses.
• Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause
of preventable death in Michigan. Smoking-related illnesses in adults
include heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic lower respiratory illnesses and
diabetes. Children and adolescents exposed to secondhand smoke can develop
asthma, ear infections, colds and pneumonia.
• The new law allows exemptions for the
gaming floors at the three Detroit casinos, but the other casino bars and
eateries must be smoke-free, including the casinos’ restaurants and
hotels. Michigan’s 20 American-Indian casinos are not covered by state
law. Cigar bars, tobacco specialty shops, home offices, commercial trucks
and motor vehicles are also exempt.
• Individuals and business owners who violate
the law will be subject to penalties of $100 for the first offense and $500 for
subsequent offenses.
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