Adult Entertainment Licensing Act (California)

The California Adult Entertainment Licensing Act (AELA) is a state statute that governs and regulates the business of prostitution in California. The bill was passed by the California State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor of California, John Doe, on June 11, 2034, and revokes all previous legislation that criminalizes the act of prostitution in the state. The AELA provided for the establishment of the California Prostitution Regulatory Authority (CPRA), which has broad powers to issue, suspend and revoke licenses for Licensed Adult Entertainment Establishments and Licensed Sex Workers, administer proficiency and health testing, and generally regulate the industry as a whole.

Under the AELA, all licensed Sex Workers must be sponsored and employed by an approved Adult Entertainment Establishment. Operating an unlicensed sex business, including as an independent individual sex worker, is a serious criminal offense with severe penalties.