Opinion ID: 2722123
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Guestrooms

Text: Guestrooms and suites that are rented to guests and designated as smoking rooms are exempt from the smoking ban.36 This exemption was part of the bill when it was originally introduced and was the subject of almost no legislative debate. The legislative history indicates, however, that the exemption was included in the bill because hotels are similar to apartments or private residences37 in which the Act does not prohibit smoking.38 The district court essentially reasoned that even if guestrooms are akin to private residences and thus there is a reason to classify them as something other than “public places,” they remain “places of employment” and there is no substantial difference in circumstances between them and other places of employment regulated by the Act. But the legislative history shows that the issue of employees being exposed to secondhand smoke in private residences was considered by the Legislature,39 and ultimately it concluded that a private residence is a place of employment only when it is being used “as a licensed child care program and one or more children who are not occupants of such residence are present.”40 We have noted that “when the Legislature seeks to inaugurate reforms in the area of economics or social welfare, it need not choose between attacking every aspect of the problem or not attacking the problem at all.”41 Arguably, secondhand smoke is equally harmful whether it is encountered in a private 36 § 71-5730(1). 37 See Health and Human Services Committee Hearing, L.B. 395, 100th Leg., 1st Sess. 73 (Feb. 1, 2007). 38 § 71-5726. 39 See Floor Debate, L.B. 395, 100th Leg., 1st Sess. 6, 15, 28-29 (Feb. 13, 2007). 40 § 71-5724. 41 Bergan Mercy Health Sys. v. Haven, 260 Neb. 846, 856, 620 N.W.2d 339, 347 (2000). Nebraska Advance Sheets BIG JOHN’S BILLIARDS v. STATE 949 Cite as 288 Neb. 938 residence or a public place, but the Legislature chose not to prohibit smoking in private residences except those used for conducting a licensed childcare program. That was a legitimate policy decision. Likewise, there is a logical basis for the Legislature to conclude that guestrooms are akin to private residences, and thus there is a substantial difference in circumstances between guestrooms and other public places and places of employment. Based upon our independent review of the record, we conclude that the evidence does not overcome the presumption of constitutionality with respect to the exemption for guestrooms and suites. This exemption does not constitute special legislation.