Assembly Health Committee Tables Bill To Require HIV Testing for Adult Film Actors

The Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday set aside for further examination a bill (AB 2798) that would have required adult film actors to be tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases two weeks before filming and also would have prohibited producers from hiring actors who test positive for HIV or other STDs, Reuters reports. The committee's move "effectively kills" the measure, according to Reuters (Reuters, 5/4). Lawmakers said that the measure appeared to have been "rushed without proper study or discussion," the Los Angeles Daily News reports (Sheppard, Los Angeles Daily News, 5/4). The bill, proposed by Assembly member Tim Leslie (R-Roseville), also would have allowed any performer who is infected with an STD as a result of participation in an adult film to sue for damages if a production company failed to comply with the terms of the legislation (California Healthline, 5/3). Assembly member Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood) said, "I think trying to do this at the last minute with several sensitive amendments ... is not the right approach. I think this requires very careful study" (Los Angeles Daily News, 5/4).

Other Coverage

Summaries and links to other coverage are provided below.

The Los Angeles Times on Wednesday profiled adult film actors Darren James and Lara Roxx, who tested positive for HIV last month (Piccalo/Hubler, Los Angeles Times, 5/5).
KCAL's "KCAL 9 News" on Tuesday reported on the HIV cases. The segment includes comments from Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation Executive Director Sharon Mitchell; AIM Board Chair Ira Levine; Dr. Peter Kerndt of the STD program at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services; adult film actor Justine Joli; and adult film director Rob Spallone (Rubenstein, "KCAL 9 News," KCAL, 5/4). The complete segment is available online in Windows Media.
KQED's "The California Report" on Tuesday reported on Leslie's bill. The segment includes comments from Leslie (Myers, "The California Report," KQED, 5/4). The complete segment is available online in RealPlayer.

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