International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) State Legislature Hearing on Proposed Smoking Ban
Senate Judiciary Committee Set To Hear SB493
Hearing Set for February 13
February 8, 2008 - The Kansas State Legislature's Senate Judiciary Committee will hearing Opposing testimony to Senate Bill 493 on Wednesday, February 13, at 930am, in meeting room S-123 (those in favor of this bill will have testified one day earlier).
SB493 proposes to ban all public smoking throughout the state of Kansas. At this time there are no exemptions included in the legislation for retail tobacco shops, cigar bars, or similar businesses.
With that said, this does not mean that these exemptions cannot be included in the bill--SB493 is only the starting foundation of the proposed smoking ban. Working in conjunction with the lobbyists from the Cigar Association of America, and other tobacco-friendly allies, we will work to see SB493 defeated in its entirety. However, we will also work to ensure the critical exemptions for your businesses are included in the legislation.
Call to Action!
For those who are in close proximity to Topeka, or those with a sense of adventure and love of the road, I encourage you to attend this important hearing. Lobbyists from the Cigar Assocation of America are already set to testify and your support and additional testimony will be important.
IMPORTANT! I will need a copy of your testimony no later than Monday 2pm EST. I know this is short notice, but we only found out about the hearing this morning. Your testimony does not need to be complicated--in fact, short and concise is better. Call or email me with any questions. See the link below to assistance in writing your testimony.
The IPCPR at this time will not initiate a Legislative Action Alert. We will wait and see the disposition of SB493 following the hearing. If legislation does pass out of committee with a favorable vote, and is sent to the House floor for a vote, an Action Alert will be initiated and distributed.
Hey Look Here! Links to Important Information!
IPCPR Legislative Action Center--Follow the link and under the Members Only tab, click on Legislative Action Center. Scroll down to "Sample Testimony and Talking Points-Smoking Ban Talking Points." This will help you construct your written testimony.
Kansas Legislature's Committee Help Page--this page will provide you the committee's specific rules and procedures for testimony.
Additional Testimony Information: In order to testify, you must be signed up with the Committee Secretary by 930am Tuesday. Please contact me if you plan to attend the hearing and testify. I will collect all of the names of those wishing to testify and submit them to the secretary's office by the deadline. If you do sign up to testify, and you cannot submit your testimony in person, I must have your written testimony to me by 2pm on Monday, so I may plan to have your testimony copied and submitted. If you are close to the Capital, you must provide 40 copies to the Judiciary Committee Secretary by 430pm Tuesday evening.
About your IPCPR, your Trade Associaton:
The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) is a not-for-profit trade association organized as the advocate for the independent retail tobacconist and recognized as the "Voice of Authority and Reason" on premium tobacco related issues.
International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR)
Chris McCalla
Legislative Director