September 20, 2005
Public Hearing on Details of Smoking Ban Set Sept. 30
The state Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) will hold a public hearing Sept. 30 on draft administrative rules for implementing the recently adopted Montana Clean Indoor Air Act.
The hearing will be held from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the DPHHS auditorium, 111 North Sanders Street, in Helena. Montanans can also participate via teleconference at nine additional sites across the state:
- Billings: Montana State University-Billings, 214 North Broadway, first floor conference center.
- Bozeman: MSU Engineering and Physical Sciences Building, South Seventh and Grant Streets, Room 126.
- Butte: Montana Tech, Engineering Laboratory Classroom Building, 1300 West Park Street, Room 225.
- Dillon: University of Montana-Western, Swysgood Technology Center, 710 Atlantic, Board Room 201.
- Great Falls: MSU-Great Falls College of Technology, 2100 16 th Avenue South, Room B-133.
- Havre: MSU-Northern, Hagener Science Center, 300 11 th Street West, Room 202.
- Kalispell: Flathead Valley Community College, Learning Resource Center, 777 Grandview Drive, Room 120.
- Miles City: Miles Community College, 2715 Dickenson Street, Room 106.
- Missoula: University of Montana, Gallagher Building, corner of Arthur and Eddy, Room 104.
"The purpose of this hearing is to get public comment on the administrative rules that the new law requires us to adopt," said Linda Lee, of the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program of DPHHS. "The rules clarify the details of how we will actually implement the smoking ban. The law creates a smoking ban, while the rules get down to the nitty gritty of how it will work."
For example, Lee said, the rules set up a process for bars to go through to qualify for a four-year exception. They also establish a procedure that citizens can use to file a complaint if they think the Clean Indoor Air Act has been violated.
Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. Oct. 6. They should be addressed to Gwen Knight, Office of Legal Affairs, DPHHS, P.O. Box 202951, Helena MT 59620-2951. Comments also may be submitted by fax to 406-444-1970 or by e-mail to dphhslegal@mt.gov.
For more information, contact Lee at 406-444-5687 or llee@mt.gov.
Page last updated: 06/15/2006
