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Mitchell bill seeks regulation of local adult entertainment
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Facility near the village of Kenney addressed
[MARCH 19, 2005]
SPRINGFIELD -- A
bill, sponsored by state Rep. Bill Mitchell, that gives counties and
non-home-rule municipalities the authority to regulate adult
entertainment facilities that are located in unincorporated areas
and permit the consumption of alcohol has cleared the House Local
Government Committee.
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"An adult entertainment facility near
the village of Kenney is skirting a law I helped pass back in 2002
that would allow non-home-rule municipalities and counties to
regulate facilities that allow patrons to consume alcohol on the
premises," said Mitchell. "By charging patrons a $1 membership fee,
they are now claiming to be a private club and not opened to the
public. This effectively opened a loophole in the current state law
allowing them to escape any common-sense regulation such as ensuring
that only adults over the age of 21 can visit the establishment and
that the club must close at a reasonable hour. My bill closes that
loophole."
House Bill 27 provides that a county board may license or
regulate any business that is operating as a public accommodation or
an adult entertainment facility, is located in an unincorporated
area of the county, permits the consumption of alcohol on the
premises, and is not licensed under the Liquor Control Act of 1934.
Similarly, corporate authorities of municipalities would be able to
regulate public accommodations or adult entertainment facilities not
licensed under the Liquor Control Act of 1934.
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 "This has been an ongoing issue for
the residents of the village of Kenney," said Mitchell. "As a matter
of public safety, the citizens of Kenney deserve to have this
facility regulated like any other business that serves or allows
alcohol to be consumed on the property. I will continue to push for
passage of this bill through the House and Senate chambers."
The bill now advances to the full
House for further consideration.
[News release from
Rep. Bill Mitchell]
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