PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – Adult entertainment venues in Rhode Island would face a 25-percent tax under a proposal by some state lawmakers.

Rep. Elizabeth Dennigan said her bill, which would levy a tax on strip clubs, adult-video stores and other like-minded businesses, offered a creative way to raise money for the state.

But the East Providence Democrat also said she was not certain that she would pursue her own legislation and had not yet researched the issue.

“It might be a good idea. It might not be,” Dennigan said.

The tax proceeds would be directed to a special fund used to prosecute people who commit crimes against children through the Internet and to treat sex offenders.

But critics say a tax on adult entertainment would be unconstitutional.

“The state can no more impose a special tax on adult entertainment than it could impose a special tax on … theaters showing gay cowboy’ movies,” said Steven Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The bill calls for taxing businesses, bookstores and video stores where someone who is at least partially nude performs “any service.”

Kansas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin have similar bills pending.