Legislators discuss protecting Minnesota's clean indoor air and keeping our kids safe

ST. PAUL, Minn., March 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Senate Health, Human Services and Housing Policy Committee passed Senate File 2027, which would expand protections under the Freedom to Breathe Act by prohibiting e-cigarette use where smoking is prohibited, require that e-cigarettes be placed behind the counter in stores and penalize retailers who sell to minors. 

The bill was authored by Senator Kathy Sheran (DFL-Mankato), who in 2007 was the chief author of the Freedom to Breathe Act, which eliminated smoking in bars and restaurants. "Seven years ago, we could not have anticipated technology that would allow people to get around the smoke-free law," Sen. Sheran told committee members. "This is a loophole that needs closing."

A new poll from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota shows the law to be hugely popular with Minnesotans. Eighty-seven percent support the standard of clean indoor air that the law provides, and 79 percent support including e-cigarettes in existing smoke-free policies. Eighty-seven percent also support keeping e-cigarettes behind the counter so they are less visible and accessible to youth.

"There is a lot that we don't yet know about e-cigarettes," said Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger. "We have to adapt our laws to a changing market and new products. The state has a responsibility to act when an unknown and potentially dangerous substance is introduced into our clean air."

"The Freedom to Breathe Act is one of the most popular policies our state has ever enacted," Janelle Waldock, Director of the Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, told the committee. "Many studies have shown great health benefits of this law, and leaving e-cigarettes out of it would be a step backward."

SF 2027 was passed by the committee and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee at the conclusion of this hearing.

The Freedom to Breathe coalition is a group of Minnesota's leading health and nonprofit organizations who share a goal of maintaining the strong standard of clean air made possible by the Freedom to Breathe Act. Since the law's passage in 2007, clean indoor air has become the standard that Minnesotans expect and overwhelmingly support.

Freedom to Breathe partners include: Allina Health, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association in Minnesota, Association for Nonsmokers- Minnesota, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Centra Care Health System, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, ClearWay Minnesota, Four Corners Partnership, HealthPartners, LAAMPP Institute, Local Public Health Association of Minnesota, Metro-MN Chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society, Minnesota Medical Association, PartnerSHIP 4 Health and Southwest Community Health Improvement Program (C.H.I.P.) Twin Cities Medical Society.

SOURCE ClearWay Minnesota

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