TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - Implementing a voter-approved ban on electronic smoking devices in workplaces is moving forward in the Florida House of Representatives.
This comes without a proposal by anti-smoking advocates to re-define vaping devices as tobacco products.
A measure passed by the House Health Quality Subcommittee Wednesday mirrors a longstanding ban on smoking tobacco in indoor workplaces and would add vaping to a state law that bars people from smoking tobacco within one thousand feet of schools.
State Representative Mike Beltran is sponsoring the bill.
"You wouldn't be able to smoke or vape in an indoor workplace. So, in restaurants, offices, public buildings, places of that nature, you wouldn't be able to vape there, just as you're not allowed to smoke," said Representative Beltran.
However, anti-smoking advocates argue the bill doesn't go far enough.
The American Lung Association feels vaping devices should be considered tobacco products by the state which would help Florida's Tobacco Free educational efforts to slow the increased usage by kids of e-cigarettes.
