TALLAHASSEE – Legislation
that would have allowed Sarasota County and several local governments to
re-impose smoking bans on public property, including public beaches, appears
stalled for this year, the Herald Tribune reports.
Two state Senate
committees previously approved the measure (SB 258), but its companion bill in
the House (HB 439) has stalled without receiving a hearing. The panel to which
the measure was assigned is not scheduled to meet again.
Sen. Rob Bradley, who
helped steward the bill through the Senate, said he would work after the
current session on trying to find a compromise “so we can move this issue
forward” next year. He said House members had indicated to him that their
reluctance to embrace the bill was based on their perception that the
legislation was “too over-reaching.”
“I’ve made overtures to
limit the bill and those overtures have not been well received at this point in
time,” Bradley said.
The House bill was
originally assigned to the Health Quality Subcommittee, whose chairman opposed
its contents. “Personally I didn’t really care for it myself,” said Chairman
Ken Roberson. “I think that’s an issue that should be pre-empted to the state.” He said House members were
concerned about the potential for having 67 counties and more than 400 cities
imposing different smoking regulations.
“As far as hearing it, I’m
sure it will be back next year,” Roberson said.