Committee advances bill to bar conditioning child program participation on image releases

The subcommittee advanced AB 2,007, which would prohibit organizations from conditioning a child's participation in programs on signing a release giving up the child's image or likeness for marketing. Instead, the bill requires a separate release form and makes any attempt to make participation contingent on that release a prohibited practice.

The author framed the bill as a privacy protection for children and families, citing a foster parent who was told she could not enroll a foster child because releases were required for participation. "Parents should have choice in whether they release their child's likeness, name and image when they participate," the author said.

Witnesses and committee members supported the concept but raised implementation questions. Members asked about the $5,000 maximum civil penalty and whether smaller volunteer organizations could face undue hardship for inadvertent errors; several asked the author to consider a cure period or an administrative fix before penalties apply. The author agreed to look at potential adjustments and welcomed additional drafting in the Judiciary Committee.

Action: The committee recorded and completed a roll call advancing AB 2,007; the transcript records the bill as approved by committee vote and left on call for absent members.

Next steps: AB 2,007 moves to the Judiciary Committee for additional drafting on penalty and notice procedures.