Condom Bill 1334 Vetoed by California Governor Schwarzenegger

In October 2007, the governor of California, Arnoldnonprofit health organizations could dispense condoms
Schwarzenegger, decided to veto Bill 1334, otherwiseand other sexual barrier protection devices.
aptly referred to as the Condom Bill. This bill,As is the case with most legislative matters, no single
spearheaded by California State Assemblymanparty is completely satisfied with the outcome. Those
Sandre Swanson and sponsored by variouswho both sponsored and supported the bill feel it is a
California-based organizations, including AIDS Projectstep, albeit a small one, in the right direction. After the
Los Angeles and the AIDS Healthcare Foundationintroduction of the pilot program, Assemblyman
(AHF), would have allowed nonprofit agencies toSwanson felt that it �is an extremely positive
distribute �sexual barrier protectionmove forward. The project is going to demonstrate
devices,� including dental dams and condoms,that we can reduce the spread of these sexually
amongst the 162,000 California prison inmates. Thetransmitted diseases.� On the other hand,
intention of this bill was to help prevent the increasingthose who are viewing the decision from another
problem of inmates spreading sexually transmittedperspective feel that it condones unlawful acts. Lynne
diseases, including HIV, to each other, and, ultimately,Fishel, a spokesperson for the California Family Council,
their sexual partners outside of prison upon release.a nonprofit organization, says, �He
The president of AHF, Michael Weinstein, obviously(Schwarzenegger) acknowledges that it�s
disappointed with the outcome urged that �itillegal, but he wants to put a pilot project in one prison?
is the responsibility and obligation of state governmentI don�t understand the logic.� Even
to ensure effective public health measures areprison guards have chimed in on the case citing
employed wherever they can break the chain ofsecurity issues with the distribution of condoms. Their
infection.�concern is that prisoners will use condoms to hide and
Governor Schwarzenegger does not disagree;transport drugs.
however, his major concern with Bill 1334 was itsAIDS Project Los Angeles has issued studies that
direct conflict with state laws that make it illegal fordemonstrate distributed condoms amongst prison
prisoners to have sex with each other.inmates are highly effective in preventing sexually
Schwarzenegger issued a statement after the vetotransmitted diseases, including HIV. Strong advocates
stating that �condom distribution in prisons isof Bill 1334, they, along with many others vow to bring
not an unreasonable public policy, and it is consistentthe bill back year after year until non-profit health
with the need to improve our prison health careagencies can freely distribute condoms throughout
system and overall public health.� Because ofevery California prison.
this, he has allowed the California Department ofFor more information visit:
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on a pilot program of condom distribution that would bebrand wholesale condoms like Durex, Trojan condoms,
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directors of CDCR to specify one state prison where