Restrictions on sexually oriented businesses in Missouri that were sought by Jasper County residents and others will take effect today, after a judge Friday denied a request to block the law.
Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem said that sexually oriented businesses likely will suffer economic loss as a result of the law. But he said that alone does not affect the legal analysis of the constitutional claims.
Beetem said sexually oriented businesses failed to prove their lawsuit likely will succeed and that they face irreparable harm by allowing the law to take effect.
Local supporter
John Putnam, of Citizens for a Decent Environment, said the judge’s ruling is “a confirmation” of the new law.
“He’s not convinced they have a case (challenging the new law) that would succeed,” he said. “That’s been our contention all along, and it’s a confirmation it’s been done the right way.”
Putnam said he expected business owners to go forward with their lawsuit trying to overturn the measure, but they will have to abide by the measure in the meantime.
The new law requires strip clubs and adult video and book stores to close by midnight. It bans full nudity, alcohol, minors and touching between semi-nude employees and customers. And it also limits where new sexually oriented businesses may be located.
Among those lobbying for the measure were Putnam and other residents who organized after a sexually oriented business opened just off Interstate 44 near Sarcoxie. The restrictions also were supported by Jasper County officials who wanted a statewide measure rather than local rules that they might have to defend in court.
The measure passed was sponsored by state Sen. Matt Bartle, R-Lee’s Summit, though state Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon and state Rep. Ed Emery also had proposed bills. Emery handled the measure in consideration by the House.
The bill was among 106 measures passed during the legislative session that ended in May. In the Senate, 528 bills were introduced an 32 passed and sent to Gov. Jay Nixon. In the House, 1,321 bills were introduced, and 74 were passed and sent to Nixon.
Nixon came to the region to sign some bills, including a few that had direct applications in the area.
Autism law
That included a measure requiring health insurance for those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. State Rep. Kevin Wilson was chairman of the House committee that recommended the new law, the focus of a ceremonial signing by Nixon in June at the Ozark Center for Autism in Joplin.
Wilson also chaired a special committee that proposed new ethics rules for elected officials. The new rule will require lawmakers and legislative candidates to report, within 48 hours, campaign donations of more than $500 received during the legislative session. A similar reporting requirement applies to statewide officials and candidates during the legislative session and when the governor is considering whether to veto bills. And the bipartisan six-member Missouri Ethics Commission will be allowed to launch its own investigations into possible violations after an unanimous vote instead of waiting for a complaint.
Some critics contend the changes are not strong enough. That includes Nixon, who believes the ethics law should have capped campaign donations and restricted elected officials who hire other elected officials as political consultants.
DWI law
Nixon came to the Missouri Highway Patrol substation in Carthage for the ceremonial signing of a new DWI enforcement measure drafted and sponsored by state Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City.
Under the law, people with at least two drunken-driving convictions will be handled in state trial courts instead of local municipal courts. Trial courts will be allowed to set up special drunken-driving courts that combine supervision, drug testing, alcohol monitoring and treatment. Offenders would pay for the program.
In areas where the drunken-driving courts are implemented, offenders who do not complete it will have to spend at least 48 hours in jail if their blood-alcohol level is at least 0.15 percent, and five days in jail if it is at least 0.20 percent. The law also sets standards and a central collection point for the reporting of DWI offenses.
Other measures include a state ban on artificial marijuana, known as K2, expanded informed-consent laws that require a woman considering an abortion to be told of the risks at least 24 hours beforehand.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Newton County
Newton County was among beneficiaries of a new law that changes county classification standards and pushes back a deadline for the county to advance to a First Class category. County officials sought the revision out of concerns the state mandate would increase county costs at a time when revenues are low and needed for basic services.
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