RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SIGNS ON TO STATEWIDE SMOKING BAN
Major opponent to state regulation decides now is the time
The board of the Texas Restaurant Association today unanimously endorsed
a
statewide smoking ban in all public places. Their endorsement ends the
last
major organized impediment to passage of a smoking ban bill.
 
 
Richie Jackson, Executive Vice-President and CEO of the TRA said the
board's
decision was ultimately about equity, creating uniformity throughout the
state. All indoor workplaces including food service and bars need to be
included.
 
"For us," he added, "this is ultimately about the safety of employees."
 
Myra Crownover (R-Denton) is carrying the bill in the House. Senator
Rodney
Ellis (D-Houston) has a companion bill in the Senate.
 
Crownover said, “Secondhand smoke is a workplace safety issue,” Crownover
said. “Studies have found that smoke-free policies cover just 76 percent
of
white-collar workers, 52 percent of blue-collar workers and 43 percent of
food service workers. By eliminating smoking in all indoor public and
private workplaces across our state, we will take a huge step forward
toward
protecting working Texans.”
 
Jackson said there are some language issues to work out but they were
mostly
technical cleanups.
 
Steve Holzheauser
1122 Colorado, Suite 200
Austin, TX 78701
Office 512-472-3083
Fax 512-472-3084