Changes to strip club laws debated

COLUMBUS — Proponents urged lawmakers Tuesday to approve a bill that would limit the physical distance and contact between strippers and patrons and prohibit adult business activities after midnight.

Opponents, meanwhile, told those same lawmakers during a committee hearing at the Statehouse that existing laws already allow communities to impose such restrictions on adult businesses — and said the new legislation would ultimately impact the state’s coffers.

Both sides offered testimony before the Senate’s State and Local Government and Veterans Affairs committee on Senate Bill 16, which would prohibit sexually oriented businesses that do not hold liquor permits from operating from midnight and 6 a.m.; require nude or semi-nude employees to appear on stages at least 2 feet off the floor and at least 6 feet from customers; and ban such customers from “knowingly touching” strippers.

For the complete story, see Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com