Louisiana House agrees to extend smoking ban

Posted: Apr 17, 2012 8:56 AM by AP

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana House has agreed to prohibit smoking within 25 feet of the entrance to any building where smoking already is banned.

Republican Rep. Frank Hoffmann, of West Monroe, says he's pushing the proposal because of the dangers of secondhand cigarette smoke.

Louisiana prohibits smoking in restaurants, public places, public buildings and many places of employment.

Hoffmann's proposal would extend the ban to within 25 feet of those buildings' entrances and to their wheelchair ramps. It wouldn't apply to places like casinos, bars and private residences, which are exempt from the state's smoking ban.

The House voted 81-12 Monday for the measure, sending it to the Senate for debate.

Topics: Louisiana, House, agrees, extend, smoking ban