Montgomery, AL – A bill that would ban smoking in most public places and work places in Alabama had still not come up for debate as the Alabama Legislature moved into the final hours of the 2008 regular session.
The bill by Sen. Vivian Figures of Mobile would ban smoking in restaurants and other public places. It would make an exception for bars where food sales make up less than 20 percent of their business.
The bill has already passed the Senate and was on the work agenda in the House for the final day. But House members spent much of Monday stalled as various groups of lawmakers used delaying tactics to slow action.
The bill had still not come up for debate shortly after 6 p.m., with the session scheduled to end at midnight.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)