Board approves first reading of smoke-free ordinance extending ban to semi-enclosed areas and sports venues

San FranciscoBoard of Supervisors on March 9 approved the first reading, as amended, of an ordinance to expand the citys health code to prohibit smoking in certain semi-enclosed areas and to require no-smoking rules at some sports venues.

Supervisor Marr, the ordinances primary sponsor, said the measure grew from a two-and-a-half-year campaign by public-health groups and community organizations to strengthen the citys 1994 anti-smoking ordinance. She told colleagues the legislation aims to "protect thousands of San Franciscans from the dangers of secondhand smoke."

Nut graf: Health officials and community advocates backed the ordinance, citing research that, they said, shows no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke in enclosed or certain semi-enclosed outdoor settings. Supervisors added two technical, non-substantive amendments — one clarifying a semi-enclosed-room definition and another removing hookah establishments from the tobacco shop definition — before voting to pass the ordinance on first reading as amended.

The Department of Public Health's director, Dr. Mitch Katz, told the supervisors that jurisdictions that have enacted similar rules have seen reductions in cardiac deaths, saying, "By passing this ordinance, you are saving lives." City staff and coalition members credited staffers Meli Lau Smith and Alyanna Caruso with helping draft the amendments and terms of the ordinance.

Supervisor Marr and coauthor Supervisor Avalos described an outreach effort that included the San Francisco Tobacco Free Coalition, business groups and trade associations. Marr said the final text attempts to balance stakeholder concerns and urged colleagues to avoid additional amendments that would weaken protections. "This is a piece of legislation that's been sensitive to the different stakeholders in the city," Marr said.

Two cleanup amendments were read into the record and accepted. One inserts language recommended by the city attorney clarifying the semi-enclosed-room definition; the other clarifies that hookah, defined as a tobacco product, is not covered by the city's tobacco-shop exemption.

The board voted by roll call to pass the ordinance on first reading as amended. The clerk recorded 10 ayes and no nos.

What happens next: The ordinance will return for a final reading consistent with the board's ordinance procedures. Staff indicated the final vote will follow the statutory interval required after a substantive amendment.

Ending: Sponsors said the next steps are outreach to businesses and final votes; the Department of Public Health and the Tobacco Free Coalition will continue to assist implementation work if the board approves the ordinance in its final reading.