Bills seek to license, increase minimum age of Oklahoma strippers

OKLAHOMA CITY – At least two lawmakers have filed legislation that would require strippers to be licensed by the state before they can perform.

Both bills also seek to increase the minimum age to perform in strip clubs from 18 to 21.

House Bill 3832, by Rep. Stan May, R-Broken Arrow, is dubbed the “Entertainer Safety and Verification Act” while Senate Bill 1284, by Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, is called the “Exotic Entertainer Licensing Act.”

Under both measures, the Alcoholic Beverage Law Enforcement commission would issue the license and promulgate rules governing the process.

Information provided to the agency from those seeking a license shall be kept confidential, with exceptions for ABLE and law enforcement. Those seeking a license must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and not have committed certain felonies, according to both measures. Applicants must also provide proof of identity, including a government-issued identification document with a picture.

Hamilton and May said the measures are needed to reduce human trafficking.

“We are going to require the identifications,” May said. “Whether you agree with those places or not, we should all agree people participating should be doing it of their own free will and not being trafficked from another state or country’’ Once a person begins working as a stripper, it is hard to break free, May said.

Hamilton said the state has a responsibility to protect children and said the licensing requirements were requested by the Tulsa and Oklahoma City police departments.

Strippers United, a nonprofit that advocates for workers’ rights and safety, did not respond to a request for comment.

Across the country a patchwork system governs requirements for strippers. Some states have left it up to local cities and counties to create requirements governing adult entertainers.

Employees working in the industry in other states have expressed concerns about whether the public licensing databases that contain their personal information and photographs can open them to harm and exploitation if accessed by the wrong people.

Under both bills, first-time offenders who perform without a license or with an expired license face a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine, one year confinement or both.

Under May’s bill, the fine increases to $1,000 for a second violation while Hamilton’s bill increases the fine to $ 10,000.

The measures also outline the penalties for businesses found to be in violation. Tulsa Police Sgt. Nick Wheeler said it would be inappropriate to comment on pending legislation.

The Oklahoma City Police Department declined to comment, but said it met with the Tulsa Police Department to discuss it.

Both measures have an effective date of Nov. 1.

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