TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey Senator Vince Polistina (R-02) has announced plans to introduce new legislation aimed at protecting casino workers from secondhand smoke exposure. This move comes after S-264, a bill proposing a full smoking ban, was removed from the Senate Health Committee agenda set for Thursday, December 14.
Senator Polistina expressed disappointment over the lack of support for a complete smoking ban in the legislature, despite two years of advocacy. Acknowledging the casinos’ concerns about potential job losses and closures, he proposed a compromise to address both health concerns and industry fears.
The proposed bill focuses on several key measures:
- Eliminating smoking at casino table games.
- Gradually reducing smoking at slots, including minimum distances between slots and table games, over an 18-month period.
- Implementing a stricter plan for casinos to invest in constructing designated smoking areas, with the stipulation that employees volunteer to work in these areas.
Senator Polistina’s bill aims to achieve a smoke-free casino floor by the fall of 2025, if enacted in early 2024. This legislation represents an effort to balance the health and safety of casino employees with the economic concerns of an important industry in New Jersey.