Within two to three weeks a report will be released detailing the public hearing on health and safety standards for adult performers that was held earlier this month. The report will include Assemblyman Paul Koretz’s recommendations to the state government on how this issue should be handled.
Koretz told AVN.com that he was unsure of what his recommendations would be as of yet. “It’s a lot of food for thought and we’re going to analyze all of the information we have and come up with something thoughtful and intelligent to respond,” he said.
If the assemblyman leans towards regulation, then Assembly Bill 2781, the bill that sought to establish health and safety requirements set by state and local health officials, could be amended. That is if the bill's sponsor, Assemblyman Tim Leslie (R-Lake Tahoe), finds the amendments acceptable. Otherwise Koretz would consider writing a new bill based on his own recommendations. Or Koretz could recommend that nothing at all be done.
The report will discuss the cons and pros of mandatory condoms and mandatory testing, as well as the appropriate agency, if any should be required, should be in charge of oversight, among other topics.
“How far is not enough regulation and how far is too much and likely to force people out of state or underground? We want to minimize the risk, not increase it by driving people away from the protections that already exist,” Koretz said.
“I suspect that things will move in a direction of attempting to reach a consensus between the adult industry and the people pushing for regulation for something that is workable for both sides,” he said.
Koretz feels that enforcing the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) regulations, if applicable, might be going too far. Should adult performers be deemed employees Cal/OSHA regulations that require employers to protect employees from blood-borne pathogens, such as the HIV virus, would go into effect; condoms would be mandatory, as would dental dams, and possibly even goggles.
“Its more likely that the producers would find a way to reclassify the performers as contractors than adopt the standards Cal/OSHA would require,” he said. “And we’re not attempting to put the industry out of business. We’re not trying to chase the problem away, we’re trying to find a solution that works for everyone.”
The aspect of the public hearing that surprised Koretz the most was the apparent willingness of a number of people, most notably Adam Glasser, to accept the use of condoms.
“The fact that there was some support of condoms was very encouraging.” Koretz said. “I’d feel better about it they offer them the option to work with condoms. If someone doesn’t want to work without condoms then they should be able to do so without facing a penalty.”
In fact, condoms, or the lack thereof, led Koretz to consider calling a hearing on the health and safety of the adult industry prior to the recent HIV crisis. “We’d heard some passing complaints about not being able to find work if you wanted to use condoms.”
“I suspect the folks at AIM and certainly the more responsible producers will have the same goals that I do,” Koretz said, “which are reducing the likelihood that anyone contracts HIV and AIDS.”
Koretz began his political career working to incorporate the city of West Hollywood in 1984, and then served on the City Council, then as mayor of the city, before being elected to represent the 42 District in the California State Assembly. So it’s no wonder that he has been heavily involved in shaping HIV/AIDS legislation on a local level, and on a state level during his tenure in the legislature, including pushing a bill that expanded Medi-Cal coverage to non-disabled HIV patients.
On a local level Koretz advocated mandatory distribution of condoms in bars and restaurants. “We were prepared to legislate the distribution of condoms, but the bar owners and the restaurants said, ‘Look, we’ll do it anyway, but don’t make it a law.’ That’s something that could happen here,” he said.
Koretz is the elected official for a number of people involved in the adult industry. The 42 District that he represents includes: Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, Bel Air, Brentwood, Hollywood, Hancock Park, Los Feliz, Valley Village, North Hollywood, Toluca Lake, Universal City, Sherman Oaks, Studio City and West Hollywood.
Koretz serves as the chair of the Assembly Labor Committee, and it was in that capacity that he called for the public hearing on health and safety, the first time the government has looked into the well being of the performers in the adult industry.
“Most folks are definitely afraid of this issue. I have to say that this is the first time that I’ve been involved with a hearing or a standing committee where only the chair showed up,” Koretz said.
“I think, in fact I know from talking to some of my colleagues that people are terrified to be associated with the issue,” Koretz said. “It’s not like I’m looking to be associated with the issue, but you have to deal with the policy. If no one else is going to deal with the policy then someone who reasonably open minded and thoughtful and has dealt with HIV issues for 20 years might as well be the one.
