On Aug. 22, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to impose mandatory permit fees on adult productions.
In compliance with Measure B, which voters passed in 2012, the current fee mandate requires any producer shooting penetrative sex in Los Angeles County to pay $1,671 for a two-year permit. Those who fail to comply with permitting fees, as well as with Measure B’s sexual health training modules and condom mandates, can face a fine of $1,000 and up to six months in jail for each offense.
It remains unclear how and when the fees will be implemented. Moreover, as “producers” under Measure B range from traditional studios to cam performers and custom clips manufacturers, there is a lot of confusion regarding who ultimately is responsible for these fees – especially regarding webcam.
Regarding a show’s actual content: Shows that feature penis penetration are subject to Measure B mandates, but what about shows that include toy insertion or insertion of any other body part?
Regarding broadcasting and distribution: When models located anywhere on Earth broadcast via a network headquartered in Los Angeles County, who is responsible for the fees? When a studio located in Los Angeles County is run by a company located outside the region – maybe even outside the United States – who is responsible for the fees?
These are only some of the extremely relevant questions that have not been addressed by lawmakers.
YNOT Cam corresponded with Shirley Lara, chief operating officer of Chaturbate.com, who had this to say about the issue:
As a technology platform, Chaturbate’s website is available to a diverse group of independent broadcasters throughout the world. We encourage our independent broadcasters who might broadcast on our platform from L.A. County to be aware of Measure B’s purported requirements and to determine whether their broadcasts are in compliance with those requirements.
If they have questions about Measure B and how it affects them, we recommend broadcasters reach out to the Free Speech Coalition (FSC), which is a national trade association for the adult entertainment industry. FSC is a great resource on this and many other issues and is actively looking into ways to remedy the negative effects of Measure B.
While Chaturbate is already a proud diamond member of the trade association, we have made an additional meaningful donation to support FSC in its efforts to lead, protect and support the growth and wellbeing of businesses and workers in the adult industry, as well as the communities to which they belong.
At this time, current understanding of Measure B suggests everyone from cam networks and studios to independent models broadcasting within Los Angeles County are subject to its permit stipulations. Further, there is no differentiation in fee structure between a large content producer and a part-time independent model.
FSC Director of Policy and Industry Relations Siouxsie Q James previously told YNOT Cam the measure is largely unenforceable due to successful litigation since 2012. The Los Angeles Daily News’ Editorial Board has called it “misguided” and “pointless,” going so far as to suggest the measure be repealed. However, though Measure B and all its vagaries do not seem to be an immediate threat to today’s broadcasts and shows, this issue does not appear to be going away.
We will continue to report on this issue as it develops.
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See previous coverage of Measure B on YNOT Cam here.
Erika is a sex positive people watcher (and writer). Email her at erika@ynotcam.com.
