Indiana House passes watered down smoking-ban bill

The Indiana House has approved a bill that originally would have banned smoking in public places except casinos and pari-mutuel
horse racing venues.

The House voted 73-26 for the bill Tuesday night after previously exempting several other
places from a smoking ban. The added exemptions include bars, taverns, tobacco shops and fraternal clubs such as American
Legion posts.

The bill would also allow smoking in family-owned and operated businesses if all the employees are
related to the owner. They could only smoke in areas of the businesses not open to the public.

Democratic Rep.
Charlie Brown of Gary hopes the Senate will consider his bill and remove most of the exemptions.