Health board backs bill giving counties power to curb smoking

The Clark County Board of Health gave its blessing Thursday to a measure before the Legislature that would give counties more control over regulating smoking in public places.

Board member Erin Kenny, who is also a county commissioner, strongly urged the health district to support the bill putting power in the hands of the counties instead of the state. The County Commission also approved a resolution in support of the measure last week.

The bill would amend a state law that prohibits local governments from implementing their own smoking regulations.

Kenny said taxpayers are footing the bill for smokers who need medical care when they go to University Medical Center, a public hospital run by Clark County. She said the hospital spent in excess of $12 million in 1998.

"It (regulating) should come back to the county and come back to this board," Kenny said. "We have garnered support for this from other counties throughout the state."

But some municipalities in Nevada have rejected amending the state law. Alice Fessender, a councilwoman in Mesquite, said her City Council rejected the amendment at its Tuesday meeting. She is adamantly opposed to the health district supporting the change, saying smokers in casinos would be threatened.

"To me, it's like taking away a fundamental right," Fessender said. "I do not want to see this in our town. I'm definitely opposed to this.

"It's all right to let your child run in front of bulls (referring to Mesquite's running of the bulls event). It's all right to have someone (on a motorcycle) jump over cars. But you can't smoke a cigarette."

Kenny said amending the law would only give counties the option to regulate smoking in public places, instead of allowing legislators in Carson City to make the decisions. She said no specific businesses or other public locations have been targeted.

The board passed a resolution in support of the amendment with only Fessender opposing it.

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