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The House Health Committee will hold a public hearing on Monday to revisit the issue of expanding the state's Clean Indoor Air Act and close exemption loopholes.

The House of Representative's Health Committee will hold a public hearing on Monday to revisit the issue of expanding the state's Clean Indoor Air Act and close exemption loopholes.

Rep. Thomas Murt, R-Montgomery, is spearheading the proposed update.

Under Murt's amendment, the indoor smoking ban would be extended to bars with food sales making up less than 20 percent of total sales, casino gaming floors, hotel rooms, outdoor patio areas at food or drinking establishments and private clubs.

Use of electronic cigarettes would also be banned in those scenarios as well.

Deborah Brown, president and CEO of the American Lung Association, was involved in 2008 when the Clean Indoor Air Act was passed. She called Murt's bill a necessary improvement.

"We were happy that it passed, but we were disappointed that every Pennsylvanian was not provided the opportunity to be in a smoke free environment including 33,000 casino workers," Brown said."We know second-hand smoke kills 38,000 non-smokers nationwide and 3,000 of those are Pennsylvanians."

Brown noted that the American Lung Association is working closely with Murt and Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Montgomery County, to close the loopholes.

"There are still other patrons in these facilities plus employees who are being exposed to second-hand smoke. The Surgeon General's Office clearly states this is a Class A carcinogen,"said Sen. Stewart Greenleaf.

David Sutton a spokesman for the tobacco corporation Altria said that although there are some places that should be smoke-free, complete bans are not necessarily the answer.

"There are places where smoking should not be permitted at all, such as elevators, places where a specific fire hazard already exists, or areas occupied primarily by children, such as playgrounds, schools and daycare facilities. However, complete bans go too far," Sutton stated.

"Business owners - particularly owners of restaurants and bars - are most familiar with how to accommodate the needs of their patrons and should have the opportunity and flexibility to determine their own smoking policy. The public can then choose whether or not to frequent places where smoking is permitted."

Sutton also states that smoking outdoors should also be permitted, except in the case where the area is designed primarily for children.

Pennsylvania Restaurant Association President John Longstreet said the number of loopholes and exemptions in the current legislation is problematic--especially for hospitality employees who may be working in private clubs, such as VFWs, that allow smoking.

"They're just trying to make a living and support their families ... if they have to come to work, they don't have any choice other than to be exposed to second-hand smoke," Longstreet said.

While Longstreet said that he favors most of Murt's changes, he didn't necessarily favor a provision that would remove the preemption language.

According to the co-sponsorship memorandum, the removal of preemption language would allow localities to pass smoke-free ordinances that could be more stringent than the state law.

"We're in favor of a uniform application across the state, but we're not in favor of localities passing different ordinances," Longstreet said.

This isn't the first attempt by lawmakers to expand the Clean Indoor Air Act and Brown said that the amendment could hit opposition by legislators who think it could hurt business.

An economic study conducted by the Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco found that, "smoke-free policies have a positive impact or no effect on business openings and closings."

"There are restaurants and bars in many other states that are 100% smoke free. So why can't Pennsylvania be 100% smoke free?" Brown said.

Greenleaf said that as more people realize the dangers of smoking, the prospects of passing such legislation becomes better.

"Every year that goes by our chances become better and better, so I'm optimistic," Greenleaf said.

Monday's hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. in Room 205 of the Ryan Office Building at the Capitol Complex in Harrisburg.