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A state bill to ban smoking in public places could fuel a local group working toward similar measures.

On Wednesday, State Sen. Dan Grossman, D-Denver, introduced a bill that would prohibit indoor smoking in restaurants, bars, offices and sporting arenas.

A local group, Smoke Free Steam-boat, is seeking a city ordinance that limits smoking in public places.

Judy Hiester, the Tobacco Prevention Program coordinator with the Visiting Nurse Association, said the local group is re-evaluating what to do next.

"We are very excited about this level of attention to second-hand smoke at the state level," Hiester said. "We are very excited about the level of public health protection it can bring all over the state."

Hiester said the local group is continuing its work, knowing the state bill could be amended or die on the House or Senate floors.

"We are intent on moving forward. We are not going to fade away," she said.

The Smoke Free group includes waiters, bartenders, restaurant owners and health officials.

Last summer, Hiester was among a group of local people who asked the Steamboat Springs City Council to put a smoking ban in place. The council discussed having voters decide on the issue in November, but then put the issue on hold so the proponents had more time for research and education.

This winter, the group returned to the council with more information, and city staff created a list of all the municipalities in Colorado with smoking ban provisions.

Grand Junction, Boulder, Fort Collins and Snowmass Village are among the towns that have banned smoking in public places, including restaurants and bars.

City Manager Paul Hughes said council members were asked to give staff direction about what kind of nonsmoking ordinance they would like to see and have yet to do so.

He thinks an ordinance limiting smoking in Steamboat would have a great likelihood of being approved by voters.

"They are passing in large numbers (statewide). I can't think of one that hasn't passed," Hughes said.

The proposed state bill - -- the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act -- would prohibit indoor smoking in restaurants, bars, offices, sports arenas, gymnasiums, auditoriums, gaming facilities, billiard or pool halls, bowling alleys and any place of business with four or more workers.

Owners could be punished with fines of up to $200 for the first offense, $300 for the second offense and $500 for each additional offense.

The Colorado Restaurant Association, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society support the bill.

Snow Bowl owner Dewy Whitecotton said if the bill is applied uniformly, it should not hurt his business.

"It needs to be across the board, or not at all," he said for a statewide law or city ordinance.

Whitecotton said the bowling alley is moving toward a nonsmoking environment, but that it is a long process and the law would take the decision out of his hands.

Chad Gagliano, owner of Lupo's and Levelz, two Ski Time Square bars that allow smoking, said the bill ultimately would make everyone happier.

"Even many of the smokers would be happy," he said. "Their clothes wouldn't smell like smoke. Those who don't smoke would be happy, they wouldn't have to breathe the second-hand smoke."

But Gagliano does have a concern about the number of smokers who would be outside. For the bars in Ski Time Square, the noise level and discarded cigarettes of those lingering outside already is a problem.

By allowing smoking inside his bars, Gagliano said, he is able to pick up the cigarettes left behind and control the noise levels. About 60 percent of his customers smoke, he said.

There are times when music acts are promoted as nonsmoking shows at Levelz. Although a small percentage of his business, the nonsmoking shows arise at the band's request or for the earlier shows with older customers, Gagliano said.

"We are waiting to see what happens," he said about the proposed bill.

-- To reach Christine Metz call 871-4229 or e-mail cmetz@steamboatpilot.com