Freedom to Breathe: Learning about the Law

Minnesota is gearing up for October 1, 2007, when the Freedom to Breathe provisions of the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act are implemented and all workplaces—including bars and restaurants—will be smoke free throughout the state.   Freedom to Breathe will cover virtually all indoor public places and indoor places of employment, including: • Bars, restaurants, and private clubs (including military service groups) • Office and industrial workplaces • Retail stores • Common areas of rental apartment buildings, hotels and motels • Public transportation, including taxis • Work vehicles, if more than one person is present • Home offices with clients or employees other than the resident • Public and private educational facilities • Auditoriums, arenas and meeting rooms • Day care premises • Health care facilities and clinics • Meeting rooms open to the public, including AA, NA, etc.   Minnesota state law does not cover the following areas (however, local ordinances may be more restrictive): • Outdoor areas, including outdoor patios • Tribal casinos • Certain farm vehicles • Actors in theatre productions • Hotel guestrooms   Whether you are a business owner, an employee, or you just want to learn more about the new law, there are a few web sites you can look to for help. On the Fresh Air Minnesota web site (http://www.freshairmn.org), you can read about the benefits of smoke-free air, view the Fresh Air commercial, and download tips and tools for businesses. The Minnesota Department of Health has also set up a web site with information on Freedom to Breathe (http://www.health.state.mn.us/freedomtobreathe) and has written several fact sheets about the specific areas that are covered in the law.   The Minnesota Department of Health is the lead enforcement agency of the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act. They have developed a new tool to help educate business owners and managers of the new Freedom to Breathe Provisions and they are asking for the help of all Minnesotans.   If you observe a violation of the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act after October 1, 2007, the Minnesota Department of Health encourages you to send a compliance letter to the business owner or manager as an educational tool to inform them or remind them of the changes to the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act. Experience has shown that the majority of business owners and managers will comply with the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act once they understand the requirements of the law.   If you notice a violation and would like to send an anonymous letter, you can download one from the Minnesota Department of Health’s web site (http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/mciaa/ftb/compliance.html).

Celebrate the Freedom to Breathe

With a little more than two weeks before Minnesota goes smoke free on October 1, 2007, you may be wondering how you can get involved and celebrate with your community.   There are several organizations around Minnesota that are working on smoke-free environments. Visit their web sites to learn about the law and how they will be celebrating the implementation of Freedom to Breathe. • Anoka County - www.anokacosmokefree.org • Beltrami County - www.smokefreebeltrami.org • Bloomington - www.ci.bloomington.mn.us • Clay County - www.fmareasafe.org • Dakota County - www.smokefreedakota.org/ • Goodhue County - www.smokefreegoodhuecounty.org/ • Kandiyohi County - www.breatheeasyeveryone.com/ • Mankato - www.smokefreegreatermankato.org/masfc/ • Meeker/McCloud/Sibley Counties - www.smokefreemms.org • Nobles County - www.smokefreenobles.org • Ramsey County - www.smokefreeramsey.org • Scott County - www.smokefreescottcounty.org • St. Cloud - www.smokefreecentralmn.org • Washington County - www.smokefreewashingtonco.org   Congratulations Minnesota!

Smoke-Free Bill Signed into Law

On May 16, 2007, Minnesota's Governor, Tim Pawlenty, approved and signed the statewide smoke-free law known as the Freedom to Breathe Act. The law, which covers most indoor public places and places of employment, will go into effect October 1, 2007. To read more about what the Freedom to Breathe Act will do for Minnesotans, visit www.tobaccolawcenter.org/documents/05-14-07_Freedom_to_Breathe.pdf. Minnesota will become the 20th state to pass a statewide smoke-free law. Congratulations Minnesota! Thank you to everyone who helped worked toward protecting the health of virtually all workers in the state!

Senate Passes Smoke-Free Bill

On Tuesday, March 27, 2007, the Minnesota Senate voted on the Freedom to Breathe Act and passed it 41-24! To find out how your Senator voted, visit: http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_5534522. If you are unsure of who represents you in the Senate, visit the Legislature’s Web site: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/districtfinder.asp. Be sure to contact your Senator to thank her/him for voting to protect Minnesota’s workers from the dangers of secondhand smoke. The Freedom to Breathe Act is still being presented to committees in the House of Representatives. After a few more committee hearings, the bill will be voted on in the House. If you would like to stay up-to-date on Freedom to Breathe news or learn how you can contact your elected officials, visit www.freedomtobreatheminnesota.com.

Surgeon General: No indoor smoking is safe

Smoke-Free Coalition calls on state to do the right thing; The Surgeon General reported in June 2006 that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke, so the only way to protect nonsmokers is to eliminate indoor smoking. Read the report's six conclusions and key quotations. Risks in the home, at work, and for children. How to protect your family. In response, leading health organizations in the Smoke-Free Coalition gathered to call upon Minnesota lawmakers to pass a statewide smoke-free policy in the 2007 session. Read the Minnesota call to action. Statements of support from Coalition members the American Lung Association (PDF) | American Cancer Society | American Heart Association | Minnesota Medical Association | Allina Hospitals & Clinics (Word) | and Coalition partners BlueCross BlueShield and ClearWay Minnesota

	Legislator: Strengthen North Dakota smoke-free policy A North Dakota legislator is proposing legislation that he says would "remove the threat of second-hand smoke from all public places" in that state.  Bars currently are exempt from North Dakota's ban. State Sen. Ralph Kilzer, R-Bismarck, said he will propose tougher restrictions when the Legislature meets in 2007. Minnesota health groups have said they plan to propose a smoking ban in that state's Legislature as well. "They even talked about passing it in the first week," Kilzer said about the Minnesota Legislature. "If that would happen (early in the session), I would think that would remove some of the opposition to the North Dakota bill." That opposition could come from people worried about giving North Dakotans a reason to cross into Minnesota to smoke, he said. A Minnesota ban including all restaurants and bars "probably would level out the playing field a little more than it is now" with North Dakota, said Carry Kaltenberg, a coordinator for the Grand Forks Public Health Department's tobacco prevention program. [source: Bismarck (N.D.) Tribune, December 14, 2006]
	Minn. may join states that outlaw lighting up in bars, restaurants Seventeen states already have a statewide smoking ban, and it looks like Minnesota is close to joining them. "Something's gonna happen," Sen. Jim Vickerman, DFL-Tracy, said. "It's closer to a done deal than it’s ever been." [source: Marshall Independent, December 13, 2006]
	Survey: 3 in 4 support Winona County smoke-free policy Winona County may soon consider a countywide smoking ban. Nearly three quarters of county residents surveyed say they would support it. Lynn Theurer, the county’s community health services director, told the Winona County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday that her department’s advisory committee is deliberating over whether to recommend a no-smoking ordinance to the board. The Community Health Services Advisory Committee has debated the issue since it received survey results in late October that showed broad support for a ban. The survey, conducted by an outside research group, used a random phone sample of 352 county residents, and had a 5.2 percent margin of error, meaning that somewhere between 66 percent and 76 percent of those surveyed would support a ban. [source: Winona Daily News, December 13, 2006]

	Coalition: States must up anti-smoking funds to preserve health gains With smoking rates at a standstill after nearly a decade of decline, the nation's progress in reducing smoking is at risk unless states significantly increase funding for programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit, warns a report released Dec. 6 by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and American Lung Association.
	Mayo study: Arthritis more severe for smokers New findings from a study led by a Mayo Clinic rheumatologist indicate that men with knee osteoarthritis who smoke experience greater cartilage loss and more severe pain than men who do not smoke. Knee osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in elders.
	Citizens for a smoke-free Minnesota to gather at Capitol Jan. 30 Citizen advocates who support a Smoke-Free Minnesota will gather at the State Capitol in St. Paul on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Participating in the Smoke Free Minnesota Day at the Capitol is an easy and fun way to show your support for comprehensive smoke-free workplace legislation.