68 Pa. C.S. § 5502

Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-92

Section 5502 - Definitions

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Adult bookstore." An establishment having a substantial or significant portion of its stock and trade in, or an establishment which as one of its principal business purposes, offers for sale, books, films, video cassettes or magazines and other periodicals which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas and, in conjunction therewith, has facilities for the presentation of adult entertainment for observation by patrons.

"Adult entertainment."

(1) An exhibition of any adult-oriented motion pictures, meaning those distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.

(2) A live performance, display or dance of any type which has as a significant or substantial portion of the performance any actual or simulated performance of specified sexual activities or exhibition and viewing of specified anatomical areas, removal of articles of clothing or appearing unclothed, pantomiming, modeling or any other personal services offered customers. "Adult mini-motion picture theater." An enclosed building with a capacity of less than 50 persons which has a principal business purpose of exhibiting, presenting or selling material distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas for observation by patrons.

"Adult motion picture theater." An enclosed building with a capacity of 50 or more persons which has a principal business purpose of exhibiting, presenting or selling material distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas for observation by patrons.

"Adult-oriented establishment." The term includes, without limitation, the following establishments when operated for profit, whether direct or indirect:

(1) Adult bookstores.

(2) Adult motion picture theaters.

(3) Adult mini-motion picture theaters.

(4) Any premises to which the public, patrons or members are invited or admitted and which are so physically arranged as to provide booths, cubicles, rooms, studios, compartments or stalls separate from the common areas of the premises for the purpose of viewing adult-oriented motion pictures or where an entertainer provides adult entertainment to a member of the public, a patron or a member.

(5) An adult entertainment studio or any premises that are physically arranged and used as such, whether advertised or represented as an adult entertainment studio, rap studio, exotic dance studio, encounter studio, sensitivity studio, modeling studio or any other term of like import.

The term "booths, cubicles, rooms, studios, compartments or stalls" for purposes of defining adult-oriented establishments does not mean enclosures which are private offices used by the owner, manager or persons employed on the premises for attending to the tasks of their employment, and which are not held out to the public for the purpose of viewing motion pictures or other entertainment for a fee, and which are not open to any persons other than employees.

"Employee." Any and all persons, including independent contractors, who work in or at or render any service directly related to the operation of an adult-oriented establishment.

"Entertainer." A person who provides entertainment within an adult-oriented establishment, whether or not a fee is charged or accepted for entertainment and whether or not entertainment is provided as an employee or an independent contractor.

"Inspector." An employee of a municipality's public health department authorized and designated by the director of the department, an employee of a municipality's department of inspections and permits authorized and designated by the director of the department, an employee of a municipality's police department authorized by the commanding officer of the police department or other persons designated by the governing body of a municipality to inspect premises regulated under this chapter to cooperate in taking the required actions authorized by this chapter where violations are found on a premises and to request correction of unsatisfactory conditions found on a premise.

"Minor." A person under 18 years of age.

"Operator." A person, partnership or corporation operating, conducting or maintaining an adult-oriented establishment.

"Sexual activities." The term does not include any of the following:

(1) Medical publications or films or bona fide educational publications or films.

(2) Any art or photography publications which devote at least 25% of the lineage of each issue to articles and advertisements dealing with subjects of art or photography.

(3) Any news periodical which reports or describes current events and which from time to time publishes photographs of nude or seminude persons in connection with the dissemination of the news.

(4) Any publications or films which describe and report different cultures and which from time to time publish or show photographs or depictions of nude or seminude persons when describing cultures in which nudity or seminudity is indigenous to the populations. "Specified anatomical areas."

(1) Less than completely and opaquely covered:

(i) human genitals or pubic region;

(ii) buttocks; or

(iii) female breasts below a point immediately above the top of the areola.

(2) Human male genitals in a discernible turgid state, even if completely opaquely covered. "Specified sexual activities." The term includes any of the following:

(1) Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal.

(2) Acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse or sodomy.

(3) Fondling or erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttocks or female breasts.

68 Pa.C.S. § 5502

1996, Oct. 16, P.L. 696, No. 120, § 1, effective in 60 days.