Tobacco company R.J. Reynolds is helping to fund an alternative ballot initiative on public smoking in Arizona, the Arizona Republic reported June 1.

The company donated $10,000 to the Arizona Non-Smoker Protection Committee, which is trying to get a smoking ban on the ballot that would include most public spaces but exempt bars and tobacco shops. The industry-supported measure is being offered as an alternative to a ballot item by Smoke Free Arizona, which would be more far-reaching.

A coalition of health groups supports the latter initiative; leaders charge that the backers of the alternative measure aim to confuse voters so that neither measure passes.

Backers of each measure must gather 122,000 signatures from registered voters in order to qualify for the November ballot.