The Kansas City Star

JEFFERSON CITY _ State Sen. Matt Bartle’s eight-year quest to crack down on Missouri strip clubs finally succeeded Thursday night.

The state Senate voted 27-4 for legislation that will ban full nudity and prohibit adult businesses from selling alcohol. The clubs also would have to close between midnight and 6 a.m.

“Most human beings understand that if you mix alcohol and women dancing in the nude, that’s a tough combo,” said Bartle, a Lee’s Summit Republican. “Bad things happen.”

The vote, combined with the House’s 118-28 vote earlier Thursday, sends the bill to Gov. Jay Nixon. A spokesman for the Democratic governor said he was inclined to sign it.

...Under the proposal, the adult entertainment industry would undergo a major face lift. “Juice bars” that don’t sell alcohol, but present nude dancers would be outlawed. Semi-nude dancers would have to stay at least 6 feet away from patrons and no touching would be allowed.

“All that lap dancing stuff, that’s gone,” Bartle said.

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The Kansas Legislature is considering a nearly identical bill. For the moment, however, it is stuck in committee.

Let's go sexing!