Lt. Governor SimonCHICAGO (WREX) -
Lt. Governor Sheila Simon announced her support for Senate Bill 3348 in Chicago on Friday.
Simon will work alongside State Senator Toi Hutchinson to pass a bill that would fund rape crisis centers through an entrance fee on strip clubs that serve alcohol. Simon likened the fee to using a gasoline tax to pay for road construction.
The legislation as it stands would require strip club owners who serve or allow alcohol on their premises to pay a $5 fee per patron. The money from that fee would then go to the new Sexual Assault Prevention Fund, and the state would fund grants to organizations that work to reduce sexual assault or aid crime victims. The Texas Supreme Court upheld similar legislation last year.
"As a former domestic battery prosecutor, I see a connection between the alcohol-fueled exploitation of women and violence against women," Simon said. "It is only fair to require the people who profit from the adult entertainment industry to finance those who provide advocacy and counseling services to the victims of sexual assault."
Hutchinson commented, "Illinois' budget woes have forced cuts to many social service organizations, including many that serve victims of rape and sexual assault, limiting the ability of sexually abused women to receive the treatment they need."
Simon and Hutchinson said the next step is to work with Senate leaders to pass the regulatory legislation.
