SAN FRANCISCO—In apparent response to a request from Free Speech Coalition Executive Director Eric Paul Leue, the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has rescheduled the "advisory committee" meeting to discuss the issue of barrier protections in adult content production to January 31, 2017. It was originally scheduled earlier this month for November 10 of this year, but Leue argued that that was hardly enough time for performers and other adult industry members to rearrange their schedules to attend this important event.
The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the two petitions currently pending before the Cal/OSHA Standards Board: one, Petition 557, filed by AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and the other, Petition 560, filed by Free Speech Coalition, both relating to changes in the California Health Code Sec. 5193 regarding blood-borne pathogens. The meeting is still scheduled to take place on the second floor of the Elihu Harris State Building, 1515 Clay St., Oakland, CA, beginning at 10 a.m. The meeting is scheduled to last until 3:30 p.m., with the two petitions being the only topic for discussion.
Perhaps interestingly, in response to a query regarding the members of the "advisory committee," Steve Smith, a spokesperson for Cal/OSHA, replied, "There are no designated members of a committee for this upcoming meeting. All interested parties are invited to attend and allowed to comment during the meeting." He added, "Individuals can also submit comments by email prior to the meeting and we give equal consideration to that advise along with comments received during the meeting." This suggests that the "committee" will consist mainly of Cal/OSHA employees, with no adult industry personnel as members of the "committee."
With the meeting taking place well after the election, wherein citizens of California will decide whether to adopt or reject Proposition 60, that election's outcome will likely play a prominent role in the meeting's discussions. Those who wish to attend the meeting should probably mark the date on their calendars promptly, and watch out for announcements regarding group transportation to the event.
