Patrons of sexually oriented businesses would be charged a $5 admission fee imposed by the state under legislation the Senate approved early Wednesday.
The money would go to sexual assault prevention and services, sexual assault research and indigent health care, said Sen. Royce West, a Dallas Democrat. Senators approved the measure 28-1 in the early morning hours as legislative bill passage deadlines approached.
"The victims of violent crimes and also those who cannot afford health care in the state of Texas thank you for your vote on this," West told fellow lawmakers.
Rep. Ellen Cohen, a Democrat from Houston and president of the Houston Area Women's Center, is the sponsor in the House, which approved a slightly different version of HB 1751 earlier in May.
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