Under the measure, filing a frivolous complaint, or one that could not be documented, against a business would be punishable by a $1,000 fine.
Bill Aimed At Anti-Smoking Crusader
February 23, 2006
LINCOLN, Neb. — The man who is arguably Nebraska’s most zealous anti-smoking advocate was the target on Thursday of a senator who wants to make it a crime to file a frivolous complaint alleging violations of the state’s smoking law.
The Judiciary Committee discussed a bill (LB1200) by state Sen. Pat Bourne of Omaha aimed at Mark Welsch, president of the Group to Alleviate Smoking Pollution.
Under the measure, filing a frivolous complaint, or one that could not be documented, against a business would be punishable by a $1,000 fine. Bourne said Welsch has filed more than 100 complaints against businesses in the past two years.
The Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act allows businesses to choose whether to allow smoking, ban it, or allow it in designated areas.
Welsch said he meant to attend the hearing but missed it due to other business in the building. Afterward he said many of the businesses don’t offer all of their services in smoke-free areas
