One would allow smoking in the state's casinos. The other would allow local governments to issue smoking licenses to bars and other establishments.
The House Executive Committee approved both bills Wednesday and sent them to the full House.
"Since the ban went into effect, casino revenues are down over 31 percent," said Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association. "It is very clear the majority of the drop was because of the smoking ban."
The ban was enacted in 2008.
Swoik acknowledged that some of the decrease was due to the economic downturn that resulted in people wagering less money. However, he said casinos in Indiana, Iowa and Missouri, which do not ban smoking, have seen revenue increases.
Swoik cast the argument in terms of money. Illinois casinos have laid off more than 1,400 employees, 17 percent of their workforce, because of revenue decreases, he said. The amount of casino revenues flowing to state and local governments is down by over $770 million, he said.
Kathy Drea, vice president of advocacy for the American Lung Association in Illinois, said revenue increases do not make up for the harm of exposing casino employees to second-hand smoke.
"The scientific evidence is now indisputable. Second-hand smoke is not a mere annoyance, it is a serious health hazard," she said.
Dr. Ken Rybicki, who is in charge of employee health at the Casino Queen in East St. Louis, said the casino was "very smoky" 13 years ago, but installed filtration systems that reduced the problems before the ban went into effect.
"When it went to a new system with very high filtration, there was a lot less upper respiratory problems," Rybicki said. "The smoke was very much not detectable when I was out on the casino floor."
Drea said air filtration systems do not remove all of the toxins emitted by smokers, making it still a hazardous environment.
Under the second measure, smoking licenses could be issued to bars that get less than 10 percent of their revenue from food service, adult entertainment outlets and private clubs if authorized by members. Licensees would have to install filtration systems. License fees remain to be determined.
"It's about local control," said sponsoring Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights. "Let the business owner decide whether this is a benefit to their operation."
Drea said she knows of no other state that sells smoking licenses.
"Any money made from a smoking license would never, ever cover the health-care cost that would be involved in allowing smoking," she said. "No state has ever weakened their smoke-free law."
Both bills face an uncertain future. A bill allowing smoking in casinos was sent to the House floor last year, but was never called for a vote.
Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, also remains adamantly opposed to creating exemptions to the indoor smoking ban.
Local health and law enforcement agencies are encouraged, but not required, to report violations to the Department of Public Health, which says 47 violations were reported in 2009 and 33 in 2010.
Smoking proposals
- House Bill 1965 would allow smoking in Illlinois casinos, which contend their business was hurt when Illinois banned smoking in indoor public places beginning in 2008.
- House Bill 1310 would allow local governments to authorize liquor control commissions to issue smoking licenses to bars, adult entertainment outlets and some private clubs.
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