Much Contested AB 2389 Tabled in CA Assembly, Sponsor Announces

CHATSWORTH, Calif.—California Assembly Bill 2389, the measure introduced into the legislature by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia that would have required adult entertainers to complete a biennial training program in order to be employed, will not move forward in the legislature due to a shift in focus to bills concerning COVID-19, Garcia's office announced in a letter Friday evening sent to both the Free Speech Coaltion (FSC) and the Adult Performers Actors Guild (APAG), each of which mounted strenuous campaigns opposing the bill. The letter, sent by Garcia's legislative aide Lamont Gordon, reads as follows: Good evening; I hope that you and yours are healthy and well.I am writing with an update on AB 2389. CA State Legislature has  recently switched its focus to COVID 19 related bills. As such all  members of the Legislature have been asked to only advance bills that  are priority and related to COVID 19. In light of this, and other  pressures from folks asking to delay AB 2389 because it is not COVID  19 related; Assemblymember Cristina Garcia will not be moving forward  with AB 2389.Assemblymember will continue to address this issue in January, and as  such would like to continue the dialogue that has begun in this space  with the many stakeholders who have contacted her office. There are  organizations that have begun to implement educational programs that  the Assemblymember will continue to monitor. Assemblymember Garcia  will continue working in this space, alongside those who are working  towards a common goal  in January. On the APAG website, the organization commented in response: "As a union, our members and our officers have been through a lot trying to fight this bill, including fighting our own parent union. We hope that ... this time, we can work together as a community to enforce our rights as workers. We will continue to work towards the education and betterment of our community as a whole." APAG president Alana Evans also told AVN, "We have a meeting with Garcia's office on Monday to show them the education platform we made so she knows she's leaving the business in good hands." Image coutesy of apagunion.com.