HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 289

BYHouse Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Nutley, L. Smith, Haugen, Brough and Cooper)

Revising regulation of public dances and recreational activities.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (13)

     Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Beck, Bumgarner, Ferguson, Hine, Madsen, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Rayburn, L. Smith and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 18,1987

BACKGROUND:

State law prohibits marathon dances, walkathons, and similar contests or exhibitions, and provides that it is a misdemeanor to conduct such events.  State law also prohibits the holding of public dances or the maintenance of dance halls, outside of cities or towns, without first having obtained a license from the county.  It is illegal to carry on immoral, suggestive or obscene dances in any such licensed dance hall.

It is a gross misdemeanor to admit a person under the age of 18 into a dance house.

SUMMARY:

Existing laws are repealed that require counties to license dance halls, prohibit the carrying on of suggestive dances, and prohibit marathon dances.  Counties are authorized to license and regulate public dances and other recreational or entertainment in the unincorporated areas of the county.  License fees may be adequate to finance the costs of issuing licenses and enforcing regulations, including law enforcement activities.

The portion of general law is deleted that makes it a gross misdemeanor for someone under 18 to be admitted into any dance house.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Representative Nutley, Prime Sponsor.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     Technically it is illegal for persons under 18 to go to dance houses.  This old law is probably unconstitutional.  Several reputable teenage dance halls are in danger of being shut down due to this old law.  This also allows appropriate regulation of dance halls.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.