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 Posted - 02/14/2003 : 10:49:10 AM
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Billingsgazette - February 14, 2003
Bills would restrict nude dancing in clubs in Montana
By ALLISON FARRELL
Gazette State Bureau
HELENA -- Silhouettes of nude women stand out on billboards along Interstate 90 and Highway 287. Letter boards advertise "bondage night" and promise a lei (pun intended) to the first 50 people through the door of Teasers gentlemen's club in Three Forks on Hawaiian night.
"This is an insult to our community standards," Edie Ward told lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
Ward and her husband own the Three Forks Motel.
Their business is across the street from Teasers, a restaurant and bar that introduced nude dancing in September. She was one of many who spoke Thursday in the old Supreme Court chambers in favor of two bills that would impose stricter regulations on adult entertainment in Montana.
Sen. Duane Grimes, R-Clancy, is sponsoring SB265, which seeks to ban nudity in establishments where alcoholic beverages are served.
Senate Bill 356, also sponsored by Grimes, would give local governments and counties more authority to regulate indecent exposure.
"This bill ensures that the social fabric of Montana's small communities stays intact," Grimes said.
Opponents said increased restrictions on nudity in clubs that serve alcohol would lead to a proliferation of unregulated "juice bars," or alcohol-free venues, that are able to move into any neighborhood and open their doors to anyone over the age of 18.
Supporters of Grimes' bills said nude dancing leads to drugs, crime, violence and sexual assault.
"When a man walks out of the door of a strip joint, he doesn't leave his thoughts there," said Jackie Smith of Billings. "He carries them with him and they do affect his actions." Smith said she has protested against a Billings strip club, Planet Lockwood, and said she found a woman crying in the club's parking lot because her husband was inside.
The committee took no action on the bill.
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Posted - 02/16/2003 : 10:49:36 AM
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An alert from the Naturist Action Committee:
DATE : February 12, 2003
SUBJECT: Montana Senate Bill 356
TO : All naturists in Montana
Dear Montana Naturist,
The Naturist Action Committee is closely monitoring the 2003 U.S. state legislatures on behalf of naturists. We have recently identified a threatening situation in Montana. NAC wishes to make you aware of it, to let you know what NAC is doing, and to ask that you be prepared to help.
THE PROBLEM
Just this past Friday, Sen. Duane Grimes (R-Clancy) introduced Senate Bill 356, a measure that addresses indecent exposure. The proposed new law would allow local governments within the state to adopt ordinances or resolutions that go beyond Montana state law in describing additional prohibited conduct and establishing penalties.
EXISTING STATE LAW
Montana's laws concerning indecent exposure are already among the most severe in the U.S. They declare that "[a] person commits the offense of indecent exposure if the person knowingly or purposely exposes the person's genitals under circumstances in which the person knows the conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm in order to:
(a) abuse, humiliate, harass, or degrade another; or
(b) arouse or gratify the person's own sexual response or desire or the sexual response or desire of any person.
__________
EXISTING PUNISHMENTS
1st offense - a fine of up to - $500 - AND up to 6 months in jail
2nd offense - a fine of up to - $1,000 - AND up to 1 year in jail
3rd offense - a fine of up to $10,000 - AND no less than 5 years, nor more than 100 years in the state prison
Grimes's bill would allow local governments to add further restrictions and increase the punishment.
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THIS BILL?
Sen. Grimes has placed SB 356 on a fast track. Less than a week after its introduction, the bill will have a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, February 13. It's no coincidence that Duane Grimes is the chair of that committee.
RELATED BILLS
Grimes is the sponsor of two other bills that NAC has been tracking closely. SB 265 is a measure dealing with nudity and alcohol in adult businesses. It is written broadly enough that it can be seen as a concern for naturists. Sen. Grimes has arranged for SB 265 to be on Thursday's hearing agenda, too.
The third bill has not yet been released from the drafting process, so its exact text is not available. However, Sen. Grimes has assigned it the title: "Restrict public nudity."
WHAT IS NAC DOING?
The Naturist Action Committee has been tracking this legislation carefully, and NAC will have a Representative at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to testify against SB 356. NAC will continue its close monitoring of Montana legislative action and will continue its dialog with state lawmakers. Our intent is clear and well focused: SB 356 must not be allowed to become state law.
WHAT CAN I DO?
This is a NAC Advisory. It is not a call for action at this time. NAC wants Montana naturists to be aware of the situation and be ready to respond when the time is right. Look for NAC Action Alerts, Advisories and Updates on this topic.
Naturists outside Montana should stay informed about the situation, but Montana is one of those states in which contacts with lawmakers from non-residents is generally seen to have a negative effect.
MORE INFORMATION
Additional information about Senate Bill 356 is available on the web site of the Naturist Action Committee:
http://www.naturistsociety.com/NAC
Select ALERTS, ADVISORIES & UPDATES and then "Current Advisories" to find this Advisory and links to additional information, including existing state law, the complete text of the legislation
PLEASE HELP NAC HELP NATURISTS IN MONTANA
The Naturist Action Committee exists to advance and protect the rights of naturists throughout North America. N
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Bills would restrict nudity in Montana
