During the ISMA’s annual convention, three state legislators were honored for their efforts to pass the state’s first smoking ban.

Sen. Beverly Gard, R-Greenfield; Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary; and Rep. Eric Turner, R-Marion, accepted the Legislator of the Year Award Sept. 15 during the ISMA convention. The annual award is presented to a legislator, or legislators, who helped the ISMA advocate for patients during the past legislative year.

Pictured (left to right) are honorees Rep. Eric Turner, Sen. Beverly Gard, IMPAC Chair Ronald Downs, M.D., and honoree Rep. Charlie Brown.

“The smoke-free bill was a signature piece of legislation, and these three legislators were the architects to secure its passage,” said Mike Rinebold, director of Government Relations. “All three serve on health committees, so they are not new to issues that help protect patients and physicians.”

Under the law, smoking is prohibited in nearly all public places in the state, including restaurants and other workplaces.

Rinebold also noted that Rep. Turner was instrumental in helping to pass the inheritance tax bill. The new law phases out the tax over nine years, beginning in 2013.