Smoking Ban in Kansas begins July 1st

On July 1, 2010, Kansas’ new statewide smoking ban, the Kansas Indoor Clean Air Act, goes into effect, making Kansas the 27th state to become smoke free. With few exceptions, the law (HB 2221) bans smoking in restaurants, bars, places of employment, and other public places, and within 10 feet of any doorway, open window and air intake of establishments where smoking is prohibited. The law requires that employers have a written no smoking policy, and that proprietors or persons in charge of places where smoking is prohibited to post no smoking signs as prescribed in the legislation. Violations are punishable by fine. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has launched a new website to help with the implementation of the new statewide smoking ban. For more information, including frequently asked questions, visit http://www.kssmokefree.org/