Gov. Bush Signs Smoking Ban Bill in Fla.
06/23/03
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Smokers in Florida will be barred from lighting up at work under a bill signed into law Monday by Gov. Jeb Bush.
The law, which takes effect July 1, bans smoking at all Florida workplaces except so-called "stand alone" bars that serve "incidental" snacks, on outdoor patios at restaurants, at membership associations and at designated smoking areas at airports.
Voters approved the measure in November by more than a 2-to-1 margin.
Exceptions also include designated rooms in hotels and motels and for home businesses that don't provide child care or health care.
Florida earlier banned smoking in such places as public buildings, hospitals and department stores.
All 50 states have laws of some sort curtailing smoking.
Alabama, the last holdout, enacted a law last week limiting smoking in common areas of buildings used by the public. The law leaves it to employers to decide if they want to have a smoking policy in their private businesses and factories.