September 17, 2013 | The Biz

California will not force porn models to use condoms

A bill to force California porn productions to use condoms has failed to pass in the state legislature.

Assemblyman Isadore Hall proposed the bill in hopes of forcing adult film actors throughout California to use condoms while shooting sex scenes. A similar law was passed in LA County in 2012.

The state-wide law would have also provided funding for medical testing, training and putting a health protection plan in writing.

Groups like the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), which supported the bill, had hoped that the recent HIV+ tests of 3 performers would have secured them enough votes to pass the measure. It did not.

“Thankfully, science won over scare tactics," said the FSC’s Diane Duke following word of the bill's defeat. "Three performers did test positive for HIV in the past month, but none of them contracted it on an adult set. Politicians tried to use concern about HIV to push through a mandate opposed by both performers and producers.”

Yet Michael Weinstein, executive director of the AHF, argued that the bill would be reintroduced and that it would, eventually, become law.

“We expect it to pass,” Weinstein said. “The opinion in the community has gone in the direction of the importance of protection.”

Porn's Statewide Condom Law Dies in California Legislature [LA Weekly]