INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 29 (UPI) -- The Indiana Senate Wednesday approved a weaker version of a House-passed statewide smoking ban bill.
The measure passed on a 29-21 vote and will now go to a conference committee to work out a final version that would eventually find its way to Gov. Mitch Daniel's desk, The Indianapolis Star reported.
The watered-down version that made it through the Senate would still allow smoking in many venues, including bars, bingo halls, mental-health facilities and nursing homes.
The House version approved Jan. 31 has fewer exemptions.
Senate President Pro Tempore David Long, R-Fort Wayne, urged passage of the bill, saying the dangers of second-hand smoke have been proven, the Star said. He said bars should be exempted because adults can make the choice whether or not to go inside.
"I think the right protections are in it," he said. "Smoke-free workplaces, and smoke-free restaurants."
Sen. Bev Gard, R-Greenfield, said the bill could come out of the conference committee in a stronger form.
"It's not the bill, obviously, that some of us would like," Gard said.
Opponents such as Sen. Phil Boots, R-Crawfordsville, lamented that government keeps getting more involved in people's lives.
"People are very frustrated," Boots said.
Daniels addressed the ban in his State of the State speech, saying he wants as few exemptions as possible, the Star said.
