The Women's Center in Carbondale is supporting legislation that would help restore funding to sexual assault prevention agencies.The bill, which passed out of committee earlier this week, would require all live adult entertainment facilities that permit alcohol consumption to pay a $5-per-patron fee. The funds would be distributed to 32 community-based sexual assault prevention and response organizations, such as the Women's Center. Executive director Cathy McClanahan says the center has had its state and federal funding slashed by 20 percent in recent years, with another decrease likely this year.
McClanahan says the funding cuts have forced her to get rid of two full time employees. She was in Springfield Thursday lobbying lawmakers about the merits of the bill. McClanahan says Senators Gary Forby and Dave Luechtefeld are supportive of the measure. Last year, the Texas Supreme Court upheld legislation that funded crisis centers through a $5 entrance fee at strip clubs that permit alcohol. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge of that decision, effectively opening the door for other cities and states to purse similar measures.
Women's Center Supports Plan for Funding Prevention Programs
