INDIANAPOLIS (November 17, 2005) – Governor Mitch Daniels announced today that the Indiana Government Center Complex in Indianapolis will become smoke free effective January 1, 2006.

The governor directed the Indiana Department of Administration, which operates the capitol and state office buildings, to change the current policy to one that bans smoking on the grounds of the complex, including common areas, parking lots and garages.

“Indiana has the seventh highest smoking rate in the country. I want Hoosiers to live healthier and better lives, so one of our goals for INShape Indiana is to reduce the number of Hoosier smokers by 10 percent. State employees deserve a healthy work atmosphere and so do the citizens who visit our facilities,” said Daniels. “We have some catching up to do with some other states, municipalities and companies that already have a similar policy.”

The state will offer additional smoking cessation classes before the new policy becomes effective. The first of four weekly sessions will begin November 29 and are free for state employees. Other cessation programs are offered by various providers, including the American Cancer Society. Information about those programs can be found on the INShape Indiana Web site at www.in.gov/inshape.

The Department of Administration will remove existing signage and ashtrays located outside buildings.

The current policy for the Indiana Government Center Campus, which became effective December 1, 2003, generally prohibits smoking within 50 feet of any building entrance.