Bill to up age for nude dancing to 21 dies in committee

By Cy Ryan

Wednesday, April 10, 2013 | 2:20 p.m.

CARSON CITY — A bill that would have prevented women from dancing nude in so-called “juice bars” until they were 21 years old has died in a state Senate committee without a vote.

Women can now dance nude in clubs that do not serve alcohol at age 18.

Sen. Tick Segerblom, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Wednesday he made an “administrative decision” to not bring the bill up for a vote because of constitutional questions about it.

“It’s dead,” he said.

Vanessa Spinazola, legislative administrative director for the American Civil Liberties Union, which had opposed the bill, called the decision “great news.” It would be a violation of the right to free speech to prevent women from dancing nude once they turn 18, she said.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, would have exempted brothels in counties where prostitution is legal.

George Flint, lobbyist for the brothel industry, said only Storey and Lyon counties permit prostitutes at age 18. In the rest of Nevada, women must be 21 to work in a brothel.

When the bill was introduced, Cegavske said parents of young nude dancers were concerned their daughters may be lured into sex trafficking.