BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The full House will debate whether Louisiana’s hazy, smoke-filled bars and casinos should become smoke-free, after the House’s health care committee narrowly agreed to advance the proposed smoking ban.

The House Health and Welfare Committee voted 8-7 to support the ban on smoking in bars, casinos and off-track betting facilities. But that backing only came with a tie-breaking vote from Rep. Neil Abramson, D-New Orleans, who walked into the committee room during the roll call vote after missing the debate.

Current law already prohibits smoking in restaurants, public places, public buildings and most other places of employment — a law that took effect in January 2007.

Rep. Gary Smith, D-Norco, said bars and gambling facilities should be included in the ban, to shield employees who work there from health problems associated with secondhand smoke. He said 28 other states have passed similar bans that include bars and 16 states included gambling facilities in their smoking bans.

‘‘This is a matter of public policy to protect our employees who are working in the service industry,’’ Smith said.

Opponents said people can choose whether to work at a bar or casino and patrons can choose whether to frequent them if they are worried about the health consequences of smoking. They said a smoking ban could harm businesses that already are struggling. And they said it discriminates against smokers.

‘‘Where do the smokers go? We’re kind of doing to smokers what we did to the Indians years ago,’’ said Rep. Rickey Nowlin, R-Natchitoches.

A vote on the measure tied as Abramson, who was out of the room during the committee discussion, returned. The chair of the committee, Rep. Kay Katz, R-Monroe, questioned whether Abramson fully knew what the bill did, but she let him vote, and his vote sent the proposal to the full House for debate.

Voting for Smith’s bill were Reps. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge; Jean Doerge, D-Minden; Dorothy Sue Hill, D-Dry Creek; Walker Hines, D-New Orleans; Michael Jackson, D-Baton Rouge; Rogers Pope, R-Denham Springs; Abramson and Katz.

Voting against the measure were Richard Burford, R-Stonewall; John LaBruzzo, R-Metairie; Fred Mills, D-Parks; Scott Simon, R-Abita Springs; Patrick Williams, D-Shreveport; Tom Willmott, R-Kenner; and Nowlin.