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Some Lawmakers Want To Toughen State Smoking Ban

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Sep 8, 2008 5:47 pm US/Eastern

Some Lawmakers Want To Toughen State Smoking Ban

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Pennsylvania's smoking ban hasn't even gone into effect yet, but some state lawmakers are already working to make it tougher.

State Reps. Chelsa Wagner and Dan Frankel plan to introduce legislation to change the Clean Indoor Air Act. They will be joined by the executive director of Tobacco Free Allegheny.

Their hope is to amend the law to allow Allegheny County to implement its own smoking ban that would be tougher than the state law. Currently, only Philadelphia is permitted to have a stronger law.

Allegheny County approved its own smoking ban last year, but it was struck down by a state appeals court.

The smoking ban goes into effect Thursday, 90 days after Gov. Ed Rendell signed it into law. It prohibits smoking in most public places, including restaurants and most bars and nightclubs.

There are, however, several exemptions, including the right to smoke in some small bars, hotel rooms and nursing homes.

Because of the exemptions, the American Lung Association has decided not to endorse it.

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