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Mandatory Condom Use For Porn Actors Passes First Hurdle In City Council

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The city of Los Angeles moved one step closer on Tuesday to becoming the first U.S. city to require the use of condoms on adult film sets.

KNX 1070's Claudia Peschiutta reports the City Council vote paves the way for a follow-up vote later this year.

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The council's 11-to-1 vote paved the way for a measure that would directly impact day-to-day operations on adult film productions throughout the city.

"It makes a condition of getting a film permit that they follow the health laws, which require the use of condoms," said Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

The organization collected an estimated 71,000 signatures to put the matter before voters in June.

Under the ordinance, anyone issued a permit to shoot an adult film must provide and require the use of condoms on set, and a fee is to be charged for the permits in order to cover the cost of inspections.

A state law already exists requiring the use of "barrier protection" on adult film sets, but is rarely enforced, advocates of the measure say.

City attorney Carmen Trutanich filed a lawsuit in December asking a judge to rule on the legality of the initiative and calling instead for the state to regulate health matters.

After scoring its first major legal victory on the matter, the AHF will now focus its efforts on getting a measure on the LA County ballot in November that would require porn producers to get a public health permit.

But Weinstein insisted his foundation is not opposed to porn.

"It comes down to fairness and health and safety," he said.

The City Attorney's Office said it expects the pornography industry to file a lawsuit.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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