Smoking Bill Goes to Senate Panels

A bill to reopen California bars to smoking was formally launched on its uphill course in the state Senate on Wednesday.

Without discussion, the governing Rules Committee sent the bill--already approved by the state Assembly--for hearings in the Health Committee and the Judiciary Committee. The two panels are considered unfriendly forums for the bill (AB 297). Hearings are probably months away.

For the bill to reach the full Senate, each committee would have to approve it. Either committee can kill it.

In the past, both committees have rejected legislation that would have weakened anti-smoking laws, including a nearly identical bill last year.

The bill’s author, Assemblyman Edward Vincent (D-Inglewood), did not attend the Rules Committee meeting but said later that the deck is stacked against him.

Even so, Vincent said, he will pursue the bill. “I’ll just do the best I can. Hopefully, some people will change their minds and support me. At least they’ll give me a hearing.”

On Jan. 1, California became the first state in the nation to outlaw smoking in bars, taverns and gambling clubs, with certain narrow exceptions. The law was intended to protect employees from secondhand smoke.

Less than a month later, the Assembly narrowly approved Vincent’s bill, which would allow smoking in bars as of Jan. 1.

The smoking ban has generated criticism from some bar owners who say the new law has hurt their business. Some have openly defied the law and have allowed patrons to continue smoking.

Supporters of the ban, including health organizations such as heart, lung and cancer associations, have turned to the Senate for help in defeating Vincent’s bill.

The Senate’s new leader, John L. Burton (D-San Francisco), an opponent of the bill who heads the Rules and Judiciary committees, has set no deadlines for hearings.