TOPEKA, KS – If anti-strip club legislators have their way, the only thing the owners, managers, staff, and performers associated with the state’s exotic dance venues will see removed will be their rights – and probably a chunk of their profits. Although even supporters of HB 2835 doubt it will survive its trip through the Kansas House, its goals are becoming increasingly common among lawmakers determined to make it as difficult as possible for adult businesses to actually do business.
Rep. Lance Kinzer (R-Olathe), who sponsored the bill in the Federal and State Affairs Committee, told the press that the bill covers a wide variety of adult businesses, including book and video shops, theaters, and venues with live adult entertainment – including lap dances.
According to Kinzer, “The point, I believe, is that the evidence is substantial and compelling that sexually oriented businesses bring negative social consequences to a community.”
Although Kinzer apparently did not share the evidence he cites with the press, he did explain that the bill mandates a 1,000 foot distance between adult businesses and churches, schools, day care centers, libraries, parks, private residences – and one another. Additionally, it enforces a midnight to 6:00am closed-for-business period, disallows the sale of alcohol or admission of those under the age of 18, and makes it illegal for anyone convicted of promoting obscenity, tax fraud or evasion, or any sex crime to operate an adult business.
But wait, there’s more…
The bill also creates a six-foot buffer between patrons and semi-nude performers, specifically details how much of the body may be shown, and demands that all erotic performances be presented from a stage 18-inches from the floor and within a room at least 600 square feet in size.
Committee chairman Arlen Siegfreid (R-Olathe), says “I’m generally sympathetic with the bill, but it needs several amendments and I don’t know if we will have time. If we don’t, we’ll see it next year in some form.”
That’s if the state hasn’t been brought to its knees by destroyed property values and rampant crime – all courtesy of adult businesses that have snuck up on hapless communities.
“Sexually oriented businesses often pop up in unprotected rural areas, along the interstate system and cities, and boldly declare there is nothing the community can do and if they try, their well-heeled lawyers will threaten lawsuits,” Philip Cosby, executive director for the Kansas City office of the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, insisted to the Associated Press. “Legislative bodies on many levels are behind the curve in recognizing and reacting to the cause-and-effect relationship of the sex industry and its related negative secondary effects.”
Cosby insisted that among those effects are STDs, drops in property values, and increased crime. “Easily accessible, intrusive, and highly addictive pornographic images are the catalysts fueling fantasy-driven criminal behavior,” he explained, indicating that his definition of “secondary effects” extends beyond direct causation and into the morality of those who patronize adult entertainment.
Kansas previously attempted to control adult businesses by imposing a 10-percent tax on strip clubs, escort services, adult book stores, and other businesses. The proposal did not survive scrutiny by the House Taxation Committee.
Currently existing businesses would not be affected by the bill’s zoning requirement, were it to become law, and commercial theaters, university art classes, and modeling studios would be exempt for the law entirely. Any new business making 30-percent or more in annual earnings from adult products would be required to locate in an approved area.
