Ohio moving toward tough rules on sex businesses
Ed Thomas
OneNewsNow.com
May 18, 2007
Ohio legislators are on the verge of sending their governor a bill that would set several restrictions on the state's 500-plus sexually-oriented businesses. Those restrictions are designed to reduce crime and detrimental effects pro-family leaders say are associated with their presence in cities and towns.
The Community Defense Act, known as SB 16, has moved from passage in the state Senate and House to reconciliation of the differing chamber versions. It places regulations on businesses including clubs, massage parlors, adult bookstores, theatres, and video stores.
David Miller of Citizens for Community Values (CCV), which has helped push the measure, says the Senate needs to approve House changes to the bill. Those changes, he explains, includes some very positive ones for enforcement of the basic provisions -- so such no touching of nude or semi-nude employees in strip clubs, and closure between midnight and 6 a.m.
Miller says local governments will now get help protecting the state law and their own related local ordinances from legal challenges. If such challenges arise, "then they have protection that's going to be provided, not only in free legal counsel from the attorney general, but defense of those regulations," says the CCV spokesman. According to Miller, that could even include a worse-case scenario -- say, a judgment against the local government for damages. In that case, he explains, "then the state is going to pick that up."
That protection was added, says Miller, because of the traditionally problematic litigation of the sex industry with municipalities, which he points out often discourages those governments from taking strong action.
This time, though, he says the legislators appear determined to help the state overcome that problem. "I think that we have legislators who do understand that communities want some basic protections from the harms of this industry," Miller shares. A Mother's Day poll of 500 Ohioans indicated overwhelming support for such protections.
Associated Press reports there is no indication yet whether Ohio Governor Ted Strickland will sign the bill. Miller is scheduled to meet with an administration policy representative next week.
All Original Content Copyright 2006-2007 American Family News Network - All Rights Reserved
OneNewsNow.com
May 18, 2007
Ohio legislators are on the verge of sending their governor a bill that would set several restrictions on the state's 500-plus sexually-oriented businesses. Those restrictions are designed to reduce crime and detrimental effects pro-family leaders say are associated with their presence in cities and towns.
The Community Defense Act, known as SB 16, has moved from passage in the state Senate and House to reconciliation of the differing chamber versions. It places regulations on businesses including clubs, massage parlors, adult bookstores, theatres, and video stores.
David Miller of Citizens for Community Values (CCV), which has helped push the measure, says the Senate needs to approve House changes to the bill. Those changes, he explains, includes some very positive ones for enforcement of the basic provisions -- so such no touching of nude or semi-nude employees in strip clubs, and closure between midnight and 6 a.m.
Miller says local governments will now get help protecting the state law and their own related local ordinances from legal challenges. If such challenges arise, "then they have protection that's going to be provided, not only in free legal counsel from the attorney general, but defense of those regulations," says the CCV spokesman. According to Miller, that could even include a worse-case scenario -- say, a judgment against the local government for damages. In that case, he explains, "then the state is going to pick that up."
That protection was added, says Miller, because of the traditionally problematic litigation of the sex industry with municipalities, which he points out often discourages those governments from taking strong action.
This time, though, he says the legislators appear determined to help the state overcome that problem. "I think that we have legislators who do understand that communities want some basic protections from the harms of this industry," Miller shares. A Mother's Day poll of 500 Ohioans indicated overwhelming support for such protections.
Associated Press reports there is no indication yet whether Ohio Governor Ted Strickland will sign the bill. Miller is scheduled to meet with an administration policy representative next week.
All Original Content Copyright 2006-2007 American Family News Network - All Rights Reserved
posted by Mark G Pogue at 6:05 PM
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