Alaska indoor/outdoor vaping ban (along with tobacco cigarette smoking) HB 360 and companion SB 209

[Roger_Lafayette]

For some reason there doesn't appear to be a thread here on AK. (Have I mentioned how 'g frustrating it is to try to find threads around here before? Only like a zillion times ...)

AK has no statewide indoor clean air act that covers private businesses, so (unfortunately) vaping is getting hammered along with tobacco cigarettes in proponents' arguments. Doorway permiter is 20 ft. for most businesses in both bills. I'm not seeing anything for parks or any other outdoor locations (except on ships). I believe there is an exception for vape shops (perhaps someone who has more time than me can go over these links).

HB 360 still in house cmte: Search Results (AK for HB360) | LegiScan

SB 209 which is the same thing I believe, through one cmte and may or may not be ready for the sen. floor: Search Results (AK for SB209) | LegiScan

CTA: CASAA: Call to Action! Alaska HB 360 Would Impose a Statewide Smoking Ban and Define E-Cigarette Use as "Smoking"

If there is already a thread for AK, please tell me where it is, and zap this one.

 

[Bill Godshall]

Last week, the Alaska Senate Health Cmte recommended passage of SB 209, and the bill was referred to the Sen. Finance Cmte.
AK SB209 | 2013-2014 | 28th Legislature | LegiScan

This is the only thread for Alaska legislation this year.

 

[KODIAK (TM)]

Sen. Peter Micciche (R-Soldotna) says Senate Bill 209 will provide a far-reaching measure to include all communities in the state not currently protected from second-hand smoke, including Fairbanks.

Fairbanks stinks to high heaven anyway. I've emailed the dumbass Micciche numerous times with no response. He's probably out clubbing seals or something.

SB209 is a forgone conclusion. It's basically a "realignment" of e-cigs with tobacco to coincide with the trends we're seeing everywhere. AND, it's that necessary step that needs to take place before e-cig taxation can begin. They're already wringing their hands.

Welcome to Alaska.

 

[Bill Godshall]

Buck Up.

SB 209 is NOT a forgone conclusion, and don't believe anyone who makes that claim.

If we can defeat a proposed vaping ban in FDA's home state (i.e. Maryland) where FDA e-cig prohibitionist Josh Sharfstein is the Secretary of Health and where the legislature is totally controlled by liberal Dems, Alaskan vapers and vendors can (and should) mobilize a campaign to convince Alaska legislators to exempt e-cigs from SB 209.

Don't know the scope of Alaska's existing smoking ban, but Alaska is one of 14 states that have NOT enacted a comprehensive smoking ban (despite many years of legislative attempts).

There are currently 13 municipal ordinances in Alaska that ban or restrict smoking at
http://www.no-smoke.org/pdf/100ordlisttabs.pdf

The current SB 2009 at
Bill Text: AK SB209 | 2013-2014 | 28th Legislature | Comm Sub | LegiScan
would ban smoking in virtually all workplaces (including all bars) throughout Alaska.

If Alaska legislators have rejected all previous attempts to ban smoking in all workplaces, Alaskan vapers and e-cig companies (and a little common sense) should be able to convince Alaska legislators (most of whom claim to love freedom) to exempt smokefree e-cigs from SB 209.