If enacted, legislation approved by the state Senate Thursday would provide a series of safety and worker protection to dancers, as well as allow Washington strip clubs to sell alcohol.
The bill also created an Adult Entertainer Advisory Committee predominantly made up of current and former dancers, which submitted a report to the Legislature on recommendations of further reforms on the industry. Provisions of the bill passed by the Senate this week are based on those recommendations in large part.
If passed by the House and signed by the governor, the new law would expand training requirements to all club staff, set minimum requirements for clubs to provide security, set limitations on how dancers can be charged and allow strip clubs and other adult venues to apply for a liquor license.
Bill sponsor Sen. Passing in a party line vote, some Republicans signaled their support for greater worker protections in the adult entertainment industry but said the bill needed more work. A similar bill passed the Senate last year but did not come up for a vote in the House.
The raids were conducted by the Joint Enforcement Team, a collection of Seattle police officers, firefighters and the state Liquor and Cannabis Board.
