Senate declines new regulations for sexually oriented businesses

TOPEKA – The Senate sent back to committee Wednesday a bill that would regulate sexually oriented businesses such as adult bookstores and strip clubs. Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, had attempted to have the Senate simply agree with changes the House had made to the measure and send it to the governor. That failed on a tie vote of 20-20. The measure would have imposed restrictions on where sexually oriented businesses (or SOBs as lawmakers were calling them on the chamber floors) could set up shop and how far dancers needed to remain from their clientele while on stage. The bill would also require such businesses be closed between midnight at 6 a.m. The rules would have applied to communities where such businesses were not already regulated. Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, D-Wichita, said she voted against Senate Bill 514 because Wichita already had rules regulating sexually oriented businesses. The Senate had debated the measure before recessing in late March but postponed a vote until the they returned for veto session, which began Wednesday. [view link]