INDIANAPOLIS | The four state lawmakers charged with devising a compromise smoking ban met briefly in public Monday, then retreated behind closed doors to start hammering out a deal.
The House conferees, state Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, and state Rep. Eric Turner, R-Marion, both said they'd prefer Indiana adopt a comprehensive smoking ban with no exemptions, but acknowledged there isn't enough support for that in the Republican-controlled Legislature.
"We need to protect as many employees as possible," Brown said.
The Senate conferees, state Sen. Beverly Gard, R-Greenfield, and state Sen. Vi Simpson, D-Ellettsville, all but apologized for the numerous exemptions the Senate added to House Bill 1149.
"It's not the bill I had hoped it would be," Gard said.
As approved by the the Senate, the proposal bans smoking in all indoor public spaces except gaming facilities, bars and taverns, private clubs, tobacco shops, cigar manufacturers and residential care facilities for seniors, veterans and the disabled.
Local governments also would be barred from banning smoking at casinos, charity gaming sites and home-based businesses.
Turner said he wants the selective preemption of local smoking bans removed so counties, cities and towns could adopt more restrictive anti-smoking ordinances.
"Every time we put an exemption in we're valuing one Hoosier's life over another," Turner said.
All four members of the conference committee must agree to a compromise bill before it can return to the full House and Senate for a final vote.
House and Senate leadership can replace their conference committee members, but if the committee cannot agree or the House or Senate rejects the compromise, the legislation dies.