Smoking law change supported

CARSON CITY -- Gambling and tourism industry lobbyists succeeded Sunday in 11th-hour efforts to get the Nevada Assembly to endorse a partial rollback of a voter-approved ban on smoking in public places.

On a voice vote, the Assembly agreed to a conference committee plan to allow for smoking at some trade conventions. The plan is being grafted onto AB309, which deals with the crime of stalking.

Assembly Judiciary Committee Chairman Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks, said the amendment sought by the lobbyists seemed "touchy relative to germaneness" because AB309 is an anti-stalking bill but was found to be OK by the lawmakers' legal counsel.

The state Senate was expected to accept the conference report before the Legislature adjourns today. With state Senate approval, AB309 will go to Gov. Jim Gibbons for his signature.

The partial rollback was sought after Anderson's committee shelved SB372, which would have softened the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act, passed by voters in 2006. Under SB372, smoking would have been allowed in bars that serve food. Minors would have been restricted from entry.

The change endorsed by the Assembly on Sunday had been sought by lobbyists for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority because some groups with tobacco industry ties had canceled Nevada conventions after the smoking ban approved by voters in 2006 took effect.

At an earlier hearing, LVCVA Senior Vice President Terry Jicinsky testified that the smoking ban has cost the convention authority $41 million in business.

He said his organization lost cigar and smoking industry trade shows to New Orleans because of the law. But he added he has a commitment from trade shows to return to Las Vegas if legislators amend the law to allow smoking during these types of conventions.

Las Vegas Review-Journal writer Ed Vogel contributed to this report.