House Bill Seeks Local Regulation of Oregon Strip Clubs

The amendment is limited to regulating strip clubs and does not include other adult establishments.

Oregon State Capitol Photo: Kevin Hays

(SALEM) - Representative Kevin Cameron (R-Salem) dropped his two priority bills today in an effort to aid local government authorities to regulate strip clubs in their community.

HJR 56 is a referral to the voters to amend the Constitution of the State of Oregon.

The amendment would allow state or local governments to use their regulatory authority to restrict strip clubs to the extent allowed under the Constitution of the United States.

This amendment is limited to regulating strip clubs and does not include other adult establishments. HB 3547 provides the ballot title for the ballot referral.

On September 29th, 2005, in The State of Oregon v. Ciancanelli, the Oregon Supreme Court, in a 5-1 decision, overturned the conviction of the crime of promoting a live sex show.

In a separate ruling, the Court also found a city of Nyssa ordinance requiring a four-foot buffer between nude dancers and patrons unconstitutional. In one fell swoop, the Oregon Supreme Court has declared live sex acts as constitutionally protected freedom of speech and restricted local communities from making good decisions for its citizens.

The Court’s interpretation of Oregon’s free expression law establishes protections far beyond what the United States Constitution guarantees.

“This extreme interpretation of the State of Oregon’s freedom of expression law comes at a cost to local communities, families, and public safety,” commented Rep. Cameron. “This bill is an attempt to balance important civil liberties while at the same time giving people options to keep their children and communities protected and properties safe.”

The conflict has most recently been evident in the unsuccessful attempts of members of the Faye Wright Neighborhood Association in Salem to restrict a strip club from opening in a location which is close to schools and a nearby park.

“It is time we bring some commonsense and local control to this process,” Representative Cameron said.