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*       ACTION ALERT - NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE           
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* Bob Morton, NAC Chairman/Exec Dir:    ctnudists@aol.com  
* Morley Schloss, NAC Board Member      morley@infree.com
* Scootch Pankonin, Gov't Affairs:      scootchdc@aol.com  
* Dennis Kirkpatrick, Online Rep:            nat@tiac.net  
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* www.naturistsociety.com/NAC
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DATE: December 2, 2000
STATE: MICHIGAN
SUBJECT: DANGEROUS BILLS IN MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE 

Attention Michigan Naturists:

The Naturist Action Committee is asking for your immediate help in 
defeating an alarming cluster of anti-nudity bills currently being 
considered for fast-track passage by the Michigan legislature. 

The group of eight bills lay dormant for months, but as the 2000 
session of the legislature began winding to a close this week, 
their sponsors suddenly pushed several of them to a vote. Because 
of the way the proposed laws are written, they must all pass or 
none of them will go into effect. All of the bills were rushed 
through the State Senate, and some have already passed the House, 
too. But four of the eight are being considered by the House 
Committee on Constitutional Law and Ethics.

The bills suggest that local ordinances prohibiting nudity be 
passed by:

  cities (Senate Bill 1293)		
  townships (Senate Bill 1295)
  home rule villages (Senate Bill 1296)		
  general law villages (Senate Bill 1297)

Each version makes an awkward attempt to exempt breast-feeding 
mothers and whatever state-licensed nudist resort may exist in the 
jurisdiction, but looming large among the things permitted to be 
made illegal are the organized activities of all non-landed 
naturist groups, even those taking place on private property. 
Women's breasts would be criminalized, while those of men would 
not. Significantly and conspicuously placed at risk of being 
banned by local ordinance is the innocent and long-standing 
tradition of skinny-dipping at Michigan's thousands of lakes. 

Three other legislative bills have already passed both the House 
and Senate, but they can be stopped by stopping even one of the 
four bills above. One of the already-approved bills (HB 4327) 
defines "sexually explicit performance" as "any presentation that 
depicts nudity." If this bill is allowed to become law, naturist 
publications like "N" magazine could be outlawed in one township 
while remaining legal in the next. The resulting patchwork of 
local laws would make the distribution of nudist and naturist 
publications nearly impossible. Even the display in your own home 
of naturist publications or books featuring works of art like 
Michelangelo's "David" could become illegal.

Another bill (HB 5134) already passed by the House and Senate 
allows private citizens to file lawsuits declaring the nudity of 
others to be a nuisance. Citizens who make successful accusations 
of nudity will be reimbursed for their legal expenses. The 
proposed law calls for the forfeiture of whatever of the 
defendants property can be associated with that nude use. If 
allowed to go into effect, this measure could hit hard against 
someone who hosts a local non-landed naturist group - even at a 
private residence.

To go into effect, HB 5134 absolutely relies on the passage of SB 
1293, SB 1295, SB 1296 and SB 1297, the local ordinance bills that 
are presently before the House committee.

Clearly, these bills cannot simply be amended. They must be 
stopped! You have an opportunity to help, but you must do so 
immediately. The Naturist Action Committee is asking that you take 
a moment to write or call just a couple of key lawmakers to 
register your outrage and alarm on these devastating proposed 
laws.

The first lawmaker to contact is your own representative in the 
Michigan House. The Naturist Action Committee has a complete list 
of Michigan state representatives on its web site:

     www.naturistsociety.com/NAC     

[From the NAC web site's entry screen, select "States, Provinces 
and Territories." Enter the list of state legislative summaries 
and then click on "Michigan." The complete text of each of the 
proposed laws is also available at the NAC web site.]

The second lawmaker for you to contact by letter or telephone is 
the chair of the House Committee on Constitutional Law and Ethics, 
where the four bills are being considered.

    Representative Michael D. Bishop
    Michigan House of Representatives
    P.O. Box 30014 	
    Lansing, MI 48909	
    TEL:  (517) 373-1773
    email:  mdbishop@house.state.mi.us

Both contacts are important. Because time is short, NAC suggests 
that you consider using e-mails and telephone calls.

In your letters or e-mails to your state representative and to 
Rep. Bishop, it's important to identify yourself as a Michigan 
resident. Sign your letter and say where you live. Anonymous 
letters are discarded. Be brief and to the point. Give the numbers 
(e.g., SB 1296) of the bills you oppose. Use your own words to 
state clearly that this group of bills would make very bad law for 
the state of Michigan. 

Telephone calls to your state representative and to Rep. Bishop 
will be quite helpful, especially since time is extremely 
critical. After you've written, a phone call can be an effective 
follow-up. You'll probably speak with a trained legislative aide 
who will relay your message to the lawmaker. Be prepared to give 
your name and residence. Anonymous calls are discounted.

As a Michigan resident, you have the opportunity to make a 
tremendous difference. Calls and letters from outside the state 
will not be effective, so it's up to you. NAC asks that you write 
your two letters or e-mails AND make your two phone calls 
immediately. Time is running out, and the committee is under 
pressure to pass these bills quickly. Only with your help can we 
prevent that from happening!

The Naturist Action Committee is the political arm of The Naturist 
Society, dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights of 
naturists throughout North America. Since NAC is a volunteer 
organization and has no membership roster on which to assess dues, 
it relies on generous donations from concerned naturists. After 
you've contacted your state representative and Rep. Bishop, won't 
you please consider sending a contribution of any size to allow 
NAC to continue its work on behalf on naturists in Michigan and 
elsewhere?

Time is short. Please contact your legislator and Rep. Bishop now.

Thank you for your help.

Naturally,

Morley Schloss
NAC Board Member
www.naturistsociety.com/NAC