Missoula County opposes HB 481, Revising the clean indoor air act relating to private establishments, on the House floor this afternoon. This bill would exempt “bona fide private social clubs” from the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act, though that term is not defined in the legislation so would not limit the type of exempt social club in any meaningful way. These clubs could be located in shared spaces and buildings, which could expose non-club members to secondhand smoke. Children also could be exposed, increasing their risk for acute respiratory infections, severe asthma, middle ear disease and sudden infant death syndrome. Overall, this bill would eliminate protections for non-smokers in public places, exposing them to hundreds of toxic chemicals and carcinogens. According to the CDC, secondhand smoke contributes to about 41,000 deaths among nonsmoking adults each year.
Missoula County opposes HB 481, Revising the clean indoor air act relating to private establishments, up for hearing in the Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee tomorrow morning. This bill would exempt “bona fide private social clubs” from the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act, though that term is not defined in the legislation so would not limit the type of exempt social club in any meaningful way. These clubs could be located in shared spaces and buildings, which could expose non-club members to secondhand smoke. Children also could be exposed, increasing their risk for acute respiratory infections, severe asthma, middle ear disease and sudden infant death syndrome. Overall, this bill would eliminate protections for non-smokers in public places, exposing them to hundreds of toxic chemicals and carcinogens. According to the CDC, secondhand smoke contributes to about 41,000 deaths among nonsmoking adults each year.
Missoula County continues to support HB 16, HB 126, and HB 481, as amended, on the House floor this afternoon. HB 16 would create a housing loan program for the development and preservation of homes and apartments for low- and moderate-income Montanans (households earning up to 95 percent of the area median income). The program will provide necessary financing for affordable housing developments and will leverage other public and private investments. The proposed fee increase in HB 126 would help offset ongoing personnel and operations costs and support the county’s efforts to digitally preserve the remaining 85,000 vital records that exist in books that continue to deteriorate. With the changes made in committee, HB 481 clarifies that “bona fide private social clubs” that are not places of work may allow smoking when they are located in separate buildings, detached from other places of employment and enclosed public spaces. We also support the amendment that would exclude anyone under age 21 from these clubs.
Sent Feb. 21:
ReplyDeleteRepresentatives,
Missoula County opposes HB 481, Revising the clean indoor air act relating to private establishments, on the House floor this afternoon. This bill would exempt “bona fide private social clubs” from the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act, though that term is not defined in the legislation so would not limit the type of exempt social club in any meaningful way. These clubs could be located in shared spaces and buildings, which could expose non-club members to secondhand smoke. Children also could be exposed, increasing their risk for acute respiratory infections, severe asthma, middle ear disease and sudden infant death syndrome. Overall, this bill would eliminate protections for non-smokers in public places, exposing them to hundreds of toxic chemicals and carcinogens. According to the CDC, secondhand smoke contributes to about 41,000 deaths among nonsmoking adults each year.
Please oppose HB 481.
Sent March 13:
ReplyDeleteSenator Malek,
Missoula County opposes HB 481, Revising the clean indoor air act relating to private establishments, up for hearing in the Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee tomorrow morning. This bill would exempt “bona fide private social clubs” from the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act, though that term is not defined in the legislation so would not limit the type of exempt social club in any meaningful way. These clubs could be located in shared spaces and buildings, which could expose non-club members to secondhand smoke. Children also could be exposed, increasing their risk for acute respiratory infections, severe asthma, middle ear disease and sudden infant death syndrome. Overall, this bill would eliminate protections for non-smokers in public places, exposing them to hundreds of toxic chemicals and carcinogens. According to the CDC, secondhand smoke contributes to about 41,000 deaths among nonsmoking adults each year.
Please oppose HB 481.
Sent morning of April 9:
ReplyDeleteRepresentatives,
Missoula County continues to support HB 16, HB 126, and HB 481, as amended, on the House floor this afternoon. HB 16 would create a housing loan program for the development and preservation of homes and apartments for low- and moderate-income Montanans (households earning up to 95 percent of the area median income). The program will provide necessary financing for affordable housing developments and will leverage other public and private investments. The proposed fee increase in HB 126 would help offset ongoing personnel and operations costs and support the county’s efforts to digitally preserve the remaining 85,000 vital records that exist in books that continue to deteriorate. With the changes made in committee, HB 481 clarifies that “bona fide private social clubs” that are not places of work may allow smoking when they are located in separate buildings, detached from other places of employment and enclosed public spaces. We also support the amendment that would exclude anyone under age 21 from these clubs.
Please support HB 16, HB 126, and HB 481.