HONOLULU -- A bill to ban smoking in all Oahu restaurants has been proposed in the Honolulu City Council for the third time in seven years.

Councilman John Henry Felix unveiled his proposal Wednesday, which would exempt nightclubs, bars and non-dining portions of restaurants from the law.

The council passed a similar bill that was pushed by Felix in 1995, but it was vetoed by Mayor Jeremy Harris. In 1997, the council approved a ban on smoking in virtually all workplaces except for restaurants.

In a statement, Felix said that now that state and federal governments have won multi-billion dollar settlements from tobacco companies, it is the right time for a smoking ban.

"It's always been government's responsibility to protect workers and children and that's what this bill will do," Felix said.