If the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) gets its way, Californians will soon be voting on a statewide condom law for the adult entertainment industry. The group says it has more than the 25 percent of the voter signatures required to include the measure on California’s November 2016 presidential election ballot.

 

If the signatures are in good order, it also means “The California Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act” is entitled to joint legislative committee hearings in Sacramento. These hearings must be held no later than 131 days prior to the date of the election the measure is set to be voted on.

 

“All throughout California, petitioners collecting voter signatures for the California Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act are being met with an enthusiastic response by voters who grasp that this is a straightforward issue of basic workplace safety, and they see the need to protect fellow Californians who happen to work in the adult industry,” said Michael Weinstein, president of the AHF.

 

The statewide ballot is nearly identical to Measure B, which was passed in Los Angeles County on November 6, 2012. And looking at the aftermath of that by-law, it is pretty simple to guess what would happen if the state follows suit.

 

The county-wide measure is believed to have sent several big producers in the area moving to other jurisdictions. "We will not be shooting in L.A. under the current situation, which is too bad," explained Vivid entertainment co-founder Steven Hirsch. "There’s a uniqueness to L.A. you can’t find anywhere such as backdrops. It’s also impacted us financially because shooting outside the county can become more expensive."

 

And Kink.com - which produces gay sites BoundGods, Naked Kombat and Men on Edge - has been exploring Las Vegas as a new home-base. According to Kink.com CEO Peter Acworth: "Vegas is looking more and more attractive as time goes by... I think that a lot of companies are doing what we’re doing. They’re setting up satellite offices and getting their feet wet with Vegas as a potential place to shoot."

 

So if the law does pass in California, will it have any major impact on the industry? Companies will likely set up shop in other states, or simply shoot underground. It will also be interesting to see where the state finds the money to not only police the industry but also deal with the court cases that will surely result.