SENATOR LINDSEY TICHENOR INTRODUCES LEGISLATION
TO REGULATE ADULT-ORIENTED BUSINESSES
FRANKFORT, KY (Feb 29, 2024) – Senator Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, presented Senate Bill 147 (SB 147) to the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection (VMAPP) Committee today. SB 147, which will create regulations around adult-oriented businesses in the Commonwealth passed, 9-2, and may now be heard by the full Senate.
The commonwealth regulates nearly every other industry to create protections for the safety, health, and welfare of all Kentuckians. Notably absent from the current list of regulated industries is the adult entertainment industry, which poses a significant threat to minors.
“The primary purpose of the bill is to establish a state-wide standard for adult-oriented businesses which is common in as many as 10 other states,” Tichenor said. “The intent of the legislation is to set regulations around this industry to ensure we are protecting communities and minors within those communities from exposure that may lead to negative secondary adverse effects.”
Adult-oriented businesses present a wide variety of adverse secondary effects including an increase in crime, human trafficking, prostitution, lewdness, public indecency, vulgarity, weakening of public morality, obscenity, illicit drug use and drug trafficking, negative impacts on surrounding properties and their value, sexual assault, trafficking, exploitation, and general erosion of the communities.
Tichenor’s legislation aims to protect those in society who are most vulnerable and susceptible to the adverse effects of the adult entertainment industry, primarily children.
“Families and the government hold a great responsibility to do everything they can to protect the innocence of children.” Tichenor said.
To do that, the act would create zoning regulations on adult entertainment establishments, regarding how close they can be to children’s amusement establishments, educational buildings, places of worship, parks, and recreational areas.
In addition to this, adult-oriented businesses would be required to adopt official policies, practices, and procedures to bar minors from gaining access. The legislation would prohibit outside displays of nudity or sexual conduct.
The legislation would apply to an amusement park, trampoline park, inflatable play facility, laser tag facility, go-kart track, skating park or skating rink, video game arcade, or any commercial establishment primarily dedicated to providing entertainment activities that cater to minors.
“As drag performances have moved into the public sector, I felt it is important to define drag performances that are explicitly sexual in their content and list that among the definition of Adult Cabaret.”
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Senator Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, represents the 6th Senate District, including Oldham and Trimble Counties and part of Jefferson County. She serves as a Senate Education; Families and Children; and Health Services committee member. Tichenor is also a Budget Review Subcommittee on Human Resources Committee member.