CANOGA PARK, Calif. – The adult entertainment industry’s trade association has launched a phone and fax campaign to convince California legislators not to pass a law that would impose onerous financial terms on adult studios and unpopular physical restrictions on performers.

AB 1576 not only mandates that everyone on an adult movie set employ so-called barrier protection to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections, but also imposes a controversial government mandate on STI testing. Drafted by Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation and sponsored by California Assembly member Isadore Hall III, the bill is scheduled for a 9 a.m. Tuesday hearing in the Assembly Arts & Entertainment Committee.

“We need everyone to speak up and be heard,” said Free Speech Coalition Chief Executive Officer Diane Duke. “This is a bad bill that will compromise performer safety and drive adult production out of California.

“People can call [their elected state representatives] if they would like, or faxes have proven to be very effective when communicating with legislators,” Duke added. “Either way, please contact [your] legislators by Tuesday morning.”

Among the points Duke suggested opponents of the proposed law address with their legislators are:

• The adult film industry has effective protocols in place to protect performers. The adult film industry’s standards and self regulation are very successful as represented by the industry’s low rate of STI transmission and no transmission of HIV on an adult set nationwide in more than 10 years. Daily, five new cases of HIV not related to adult entertainment are reported in Los Angeles County alone; however, no transmission of HIV has occurred since 2000 on any adult movie set.
• AB 1576 will drive the adult film industry out of California and take tens of thousands of jobs and $5-6 billion in revenues with it. As FSC predicted, adult producers already have stopped filming in L.A. County, as indicated by a reported 95-percent reduction in film permits issued by quasi-governmental agency FilmLA. Some studios already have relocated out of California, while others await the result of the legal challenge to L.A. County’s condom ordinance and word about the fate of AB 1576.
• AB 1576 imposes mandatory HIV testing and retention of all non-HIV STI test results. Such a mandate may violate state and federal law by infringing on the medical-privacy rights of performers. The mandate also imposes significant increased liability on producers in the case of unforeseen information breaches.
• AB 1576 will waste valuable resources. HIV funding in California already has been significantly reduced due to the state’s budget crisis. Diverting valuable dollars from existing programs to a potentially unconstitutional program will hurt those already infected with HIV and will reduce the resources to prevent others from contracting the disease.
• AB 1576 interferes with a Federal District Court lawsuit already in progress over the constitutionality of Measure B, a substantially similar L.A. County ordinance. It is unwise for the legislature to approve a proposal where constitutionality is in the midst of litigation. The judicial system should be given an opportunity to conclude its review of the Measure B case. A decision is expected within six to 12 months.

Sample faxes and telephone talking points, along with contact information for California legislators, are available by [email=diane@freespeechcoalition.com]email[/email] or by calling the FSC office at 818-348-9373.