Mike Ross reports: During a three hour meeting last week, the Ohio Cabaret Association (OCA) voted to defeat HB 402, support the NCA Voter Registration Drive and raised $6,000 in pledges.
The proposed legislation requires the Division of Liquor Control to cancel currently issued permits to premises meeting the definition of an adult cabaret and issue them one of the new permits. New businesses applying for adult cabarets permits could not be located within 1,000 feet of a school, church, library, playground or park. The permit's privileges would include on-premise sales of beer and intoxicating liquor until 12 AM. Holders of the adult cabaret permit could not be issued D-6 Sunday sales permits.
The actions taken by the OCA are: \n · Over $6,000 was pledged to fight the measure; \n · The NCA will take an official position in opposition to the bill, as will the OCA. Our combined objective is to kill the bill or make amendments; \n · Each Cabaret owner will invite one "guest" to the next meeting (the guests are fellow owners); \n · Mike and Paul Croshure will act as OCA lobbyists; \n · We will keep a low profile on the bill until needed (a ban on talking to the press); \n · Terry Wolfe, Paul Croshure and the NCA will schedule an Ohio lobbying day to meet with legislators; \n · The NCA will work closely with the OCA to create a secondary effects report. The OCA's next meeting has not been scheduled, but it is expected to take place in Jan. 2000.
