SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The Puerto Rican Senate has passed a law that would ban smoking in bars, casinos and other public places -- as well as in private cars with children aboard.

The bill, which prohibits smoking in cars carrying passengers under 13 years old, was adopted unanimously on Feb. 6. It now heads to the House of Representatives for approval.

Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila -- who vetoed an earlier bill because it was too broad -- was expected to sign the legislation into law soon.

"To earn a living, many employees are obliged to breathe so much secondhand smoke," Sen. Maria de Lourdes Santiago Negron said. "They have the right to breathe clean air."

The proposed law would also ban smoking in childcare centers in the U.S. island territory. Violators would be forced to pay a $250 fine for a first offense and $2,000 for each additional offense.

It appears the House will approve the ban, since they have already signed off on an initial version of the Senate bill, said Senate President Kenneth McClintock.

The commonwealth's tourism department opposes the ban, saying it will hurt the island's crucial tourism industry.