AHF: California’s landmark condoms in porn bill (AB 332) clears first Assembly committee, 5 to 1

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After AB 332, Rep. Isadore Hall’s bill to require condoms in all adult films made in California, cleared the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee earlier today, it now moves on for hearing in the Assembly Labor Committee in two weeks
LOS ANGELES (April 9, 2013) – California Assembly Bill 332, a landmark bill to require condoms in all adult films made in California, cleared its first legislative committee in Sacramento, passing through the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee, earlier today in a five to one vote (with one vote still outstanding from the seven member committee, who may still weigh in before day’s end). Assemblymember Isadore Hall, III (D-Los Angeles) from California’s 64th Assembly District, authored the bill, which he introduced in mid-February. AB 332 now moves on for hearing in the legislature’s Labor Committee in two weeks.

Last year, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the sponsor of Hall’s legislation, successfully spearheaded Ballot Measure B, the ‘County of Los Angeles Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act,’—more informally known as the ‘condoms in porn’ measure, which Los Angeles County voters approved by a 57% to 43% margin in the November 2012 election. Measure B requires producers of adult films to obtain a public health permit from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and pay a permit fee sufficient for necessary enforcement and follow all health and safety laws, including condom use by performers. AB 332 will expand upon the workplace protections now required in Los Angeles County to protect all adult film actors throughout the state of California.

“AB 332 does what only this legislature can do by giving clear direction to CalOSHA to settle definitions surrounding worker safety measures on adult film set workplaces throughout California,” said Whitney Engeran-Cordova, Senior Director of Public Health for AHF. “To be clear: Condom use is already required on set by existing OSHA regulations. However, the industry defies the law, and it remains difficult for OSHA to properly oversee workplace safety in the industry due to the complaint-driven nature of OSHA’s current enforcement protocol. AB 332, Measure B in Los Angeles and CalOSHA regulations will work together to bring clarity to language that has for too long allowed the industry to blatantly disregard what is required of them to protect their workers. This is common sense. This is good public policy and it protects Californians trying to do their jobs and we thank the committee for clearing this bill today.”

In his remarks at today’s hearing, Assemblymember Hall poignantly urged his Assembly colleagues serving on the committee to put on their, “courage vests,” noting that there are 38 million Californians that legislators govern to protect, and that adult film workers are some of those 38 million Californians.

“In November, Los Angles voters overwhelmingly passed a similar County measure requiring condoms and other safety measures on adult film sets throughout Los Angeles County, said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “Now, through this AB 332, Representative Hall intends to expand and broaden worker protections for all California’s adult film workers on a statewide basis. He’s shown the courage—and the vision—to recognize that workers in the adult film industry are entitled to the same safeguards and worker protections that any employee in California is, and we will do what ever we can to help pass this legislation.”

Hall’s legislation will provide statewide uniformity needed to ensure that the thousands of actors employed in this multi-billion dollar industry are given reasonable workplace safety protections needed to reduce exposure to HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

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