FSC Comments on Appropriations Putting AB1576 on Suspense

SACRAMENTO—AB1576, the controversial condoms in porn bill, was placed in the suspense file today by the Senate Appropriation Committee. Bills are put on suspense file when their cost to the state exceeds a certain budgetary limit. The bill will be discussed further by the Appropriations Committee after the state budget is completed, and will be announced with a simple up or down vote later next week. The implementation of AB1576 was estimated to cost the state between $125K to $150K. The calculated amount does not incorporate any costs related to lost tax revenue or jobs, nor any lawsuits related to the bill. Diane Duke, head of the Free Speech Coalition had the following statement: “Assemblymember Hall said today that he’s speaking for people without a voice, yet the bill has been overwhelming opposed by performers and performer’s groups. That he could say that with a straight face after dozens of performers spoke out against him is incredible. It's not that they don't have a voice, it's that he's not listening. “The more legislators hear about the bill, the more they don’t like it. This bill will have major financial cost for the California, while doing nothing to improve the safety of performers. And it’s not just performers and producers who are opposed to the bill, it’s HIV and AIDS outreach organizations, sex worker rights organizations, LGBTQ organizations, and business organizations. This morning, we had a great anti-AB1576 editorial written by L.A. Times editor Jim Newton, joining the Orange County Register and the LA Daily News in their opposition to the bill. It’s a broad coalition. Just about the only people fighting for it are AHF and Hall.” Opposition to the bill includes the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Project Inform, the Center for HIV Law and Policy, the Positive Women’s Network, the HIV Prevention Justice Alliance, the Harvey Milk Democratic Club, the St. James Infirmary, the Erotic Service Providers Union, the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee, and the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA). “There has not been a single transmission of HIV on an adult film set in over ten years, thanks to vigorous adult industry safety protocols,” says Duke. “Yet the bill has used fear and misinformation to take away performer’s control over their bodies and pushes the industry out of state.”