HARRISBURG , Pa., June 13 (UPI) -- Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has signed into law a ban on smoking in most public places.
Rendell signed the Clean Indoor Air Act into law in Montgomery County, home of act advocates state Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R, and Rep. Michael Gerber, D, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Friday.
"All Pennsylvanians will benefit from the persistence of advocates and legislators who refused to quit working until we had joined dozens of other states in banning smoking in most public places,'' Rendell said.
The governor said the law, which takes effect Sept. 13, will "protect Pennsylvanians from the deadly health effects of secondhand smoke.''
The Pennsylvania Health Department is charged with enforcing the smoking ban under the new law.
