Rendell Signs Smoking Ban Bill

Gov. Ed Rendell has signed a statewide smoking ban into law that goes into effect in 90 days. Under the new law, most private businesses and public spaces must be smokefree. Rendell advocated such a ban as a way to cut health care costs. Pennsylvania is now the 33rd state with some sort of statewide smoking ban.
The ban covers restaurants, office buildings, theaters, arenas and other venues.
Exemptions will allow smoking to continue in bars and taverns that have limited food service, casinos, private clubs, nursing homes, tobacco-related businesses and volunteer ambulance, fire and rescue squads.