A bill (S.224-B) sponsored by Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson) has passed the New York State Senate that would make eighteen the minimum age for women to be nude or topless in establishments not controlled by the State Liquor Authority.
"The purpose of this bill is simple," said Senator Larkin. "Young people under the age of eighteen should not be allowed to be hired to work at so-called ‘Juice Bars’ and perform dances unclothed or with sexual content. But, under current law, any night club that is not regulated by the State Liquor Authority is permitted to hire children over the age of 16 to ‘entertain’ patrons. We have to fix this loophole. It’s only hurting our young people and damaging the dignity of young women."
Under the bill, juice bar employers who hire workers under 18 would be subject to up to a $1,000 fine for the first violation; up to $2,000 for the second violation; and up to $3,000 for the third or more violations.
"We have laws on the books that prohibit employers from hiring children to work in mines, or to operate steam boilers, or to pack paints, and a list of thirteen other dangerous jobs," added Larkin. "This is no different since it would protect their emotional health. This is a common sense measure to expand protections for our children and to ensure that they are not permitted to be hired to work in questionable surroundings."
The bill was sent to the Assembly.
