Texas Smoking Ban Revisited in Special Legislative Session

By: AP

Updated: Mon 2:54 PM, Jun 06, 2011

(AP) - A proposed statewide smoking ban inside
Texas bars and restaurants has been revived in the special
legislative session.

A House committee Saturday voted out a proposal that would ban
smoking inside public places. The bill targets businesses that
require a state license to operate, such as bars and restaurants,
but excludes outdoor seating.

Republican state Rep. Myra Crownover said the bill would save
the state millions of dollars in health-related costs. A similar
bill during the regular session died when Senate negotiators
removed it from a spending measure.

Fast Eddie's Billiards opposed the proposal during Saturday's
House appropriations meeting. The company states that 70 percent of
its customers smoke and that the ban would cripple business.

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