WV Code § 60-4-23 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 60. State Control of Alcoholic Liquors|Article 4. Licenses|§60-4-23. License to Operate a Facility Where Exotic Entertainment Is Offered; Definitions; Restrictions, Regulations and Prohibitions; Prohibitions Against Minors; Application, Renewal, License Fee, Restrictions on Transfer; Effective Date; Legislative Rules; Unlawful Acts and Penalties Imposed

(a) For purposes of this section:(1) "Exotic entertainment" means live nude dancing, nude service personnel or live nude entertainment, and "nude" means any state of undress in which male or female genitalia or female breasts are exposed.(2) "Places set apart for traditional family-oriented naturism" means family nudist parks, clubs and resorts chartered by the American association for nude recreation or the naturist society, including all of their appurtenant business components, and also including places temporarily in use for traditional family-oriented naturist activities.(b) No person may operate any commercial facility where exotic entertainment is permitted or offered unless such person is granted a license by the commissioner to operate a facility where exotic entertainment may be offered. The provisions of this subsection apply whether or not alcoholic liquor, wine or nonalcoholic beer is legally kept, served, sold or dispensed in a facility, or purchased for use in a facility, or permitted to be brought by others into a facility and whether or not such person holds any other license or permit issued pursuant to chapter sixty of this code.(c) A licensee is subject to all the regulatory provisions of article seven of this chapter, whether or not the licensee is otherwise a private club. The commissioner shall have all the powers and authorization granted under article seven of this chapter to regulate, restrict and sanction a licensee under this section. No licensee may purchase, keep, sell, serve, dispense or purchase for use in a licensed facility, or permit others to bring into the facility, any alcoholic liquor, wine or nonintoxicating beer without having the appropriate license therefor. No licensee may operate a private club without being licensed therefor.(d) No person or licensee may allow a person under the age of eighteen years to perform as an exotic entertainer. No person under the age of twenty-one years, other than a performing exotic entertainer, may be allowed to be in a commercial facility on any day on which any exotic entertainment is offered therein. No licensee may hold special nonalcoholic entertainment events for persons under age twenty-one pursuant to the provisions of section eight, article seven of this chapter in the licensed facility.(e) Any person operating a commercial facility where exotic entertainment is offered on the effective date of this section may apply to the commissioner for a license to operate a facility where exotic entertainment may be offered. Applications must be filed with the commissioner on or before July 1, 2000; thereafter no application for license may be received by the commissioner. The commissioner may issue a license to a person complying with the provisions of this chapter. Upon application for renewal, the commissioner shall annually, on July 1, of each succeeding year, renew the license of any licensee then in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. The commissioner shall specify the form of application and information required of applicants and licensees. No license which has lapsed, been revoked or expired without renewal may be reissued.(f) A person to whom a license is issued or renewed under the provisions of this section shall pay annually to the commissioner a license fee of $3,000. A municipal corporation wherein any such licensee is located shall issue a municipal license to any person to whom the commissioner has issued a license and may impose a license fee not in excess of the state license fee.(g) A person shall not sell, assign or otherwise transfer a license without the prior written approval of the commissioner. For purposes of this section, the merger of a licensee or the sale of more than fifty percent of the outstanding stock of or partnership interests in the licensee shall be deemed to be a sale, assignment or transfer of a license under this section. A license shall not be transferred to another location, except within the county of original licensure. A transferee of a licensed facility may apply for reissuance of the transferor's license if the transferee applicant otherwise qualifies for a license. The commissioner is authorized to propose the promulgation of a legislative rule in accordance with the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to implement the provisions of this subsection.(h) This section shall be effective upon passage by the Legislature in the year 2000. On or before May 1, 2000, the commissioner shall promulgate an emergency legislative rule pursuant to the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to effectuate the provisions of this section, and shall propose a legislative rule therefor, for consideration by the Legislature, prior to December 31, 2000.(i) Any person who violates any provision of this section, or principal of a firm or corporation which violates any provision of this section, or licensee, agent, employee or member of any licensee who violates any provision of this section, or who violates any of the provisions of section twelve, article seven of this chapter, on the premises of a licensed facility, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $3,000, or imprisoned for a period not to exceed one year, or both so fined and imprisoned.(j) The provisions of this section do not apply to places set apart for traditional family-oriented naturist activities.