HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6588

BYSenator Nelson

Defining when a live performance may be a moral nuisance.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (16)

      Signed by Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Padden, Ranking Republican Member; Brough, Dellwo, Forner, Hargrove, Inslee, P. King, R. Meyers, Moyer, H. Myers, Schmidt, Scott, D. Sommers, Tate and Wineberry.

House Staff:Bill Perry (786-7123)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 2, 1990

BACKGROUND:

A person is subject to civil sanctions and criminal penalties for maintaining a moral nuisance.  An example of a moral nuisance is a place where lewd or pornographic films are publicly exhibited.

There is no explicit prohibition in the moral nuisance statute against lewd live performances.

SUMMARY:

Lewd live performances are subject to the sanctions and penalties of the moral nuisance statutes.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Andrea Vangor, Washington Together Against Pornography; and Bob Weyrick, Seattle Network Services.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Live performances are a growing problem in the state.  There is no reason that the moral nuisance law should not apply to live performances when the same activity on film is already covered.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.