WASHINGTON, D.C. -- April 10, 2007 -- The Maryland House of Representatives voted yesterday morning 99 to 40 to make all indoor workplaces, restaurants, and bars smoke-free. The bill passed the state Senate last Friday by a vote of 31 to 16 and is expected to be signed into law by Governor Martin O'Malley. The law is slated to take effect February 1, 2008. When enacted, Maryland will join neighbors Delaware, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and 22 other states with a smoke-free law. Approximately half of state's population is already protected by a smoke-free law.
Working with its public health partners, the Society and its sister advocacy organization, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN), played an integral role in the passage of Maryland's bill, supported with grants from the Society's Mission Delivery Council.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Kat Porter
Phone: (202) 585-3202
Email: [email protected]