<section number="76-5b-208"><effdate>5/6/2026</effdate><histories><history>Enacted by Chapter <modchap sess="2026GS">358</modchap>, 2026 General Session</history><modyear>2026</modyear></histories><catchline>Distribution or production of apparent child sexual abuse material.</catchline><subsection number="76-5b-208(1)">Terms defined in Sections <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-1-101.5">76-1-101.5</xref> and <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-5b-103">76-5b-103</xref> apply to this section.</subsection><subsection number="76-5b-208(2)">An actor commits distribution of apparent child sexual abuse material if the actor intentionally:<subsection number="76-5b-208(2)(a)">distributes apparent child sexual abuse material; or</subsection><subsection number="76-5b-208(2)(b)">produces apparent child sexual abuse material.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="76-5b-208(3)"><subsection number="76-5b-208(3)(a)">Except as provided in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-5b-208(3)(b)">(3)(b)</xref>, a violation of Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-5b-208(2)">(2)</xref> is a first degree felony.</subsection><subsection number="76-5b-208(3)(b)">If an actor is under 18 years old at the time the actor commits the offense, a violation of Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-5b-208(2)">(2)</xref> is a second degree felony.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="76-5b-208(4)">It is a separate offense under this section:<subsection number="76-5b-208(4)(a)">for each minor depicted in the apparent child sexual abuse material; and</subsection><subsection number="76-5b-208(4)(b)">for each time the same minor is depicted in different apparent child sexual abuse material.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="76-5b-208(5)">In proving a violation of this section, proof that the minor depicted in the apparent child sexual abuse material is a real minor that exists is not required.</subsection><subsection number="76-5b-208(6)">The following are not criminally or civilly liable under this section when acting in good faith compliance with Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="77-4-201">77-4-201</xref>:<subsection number="76-5b-208(6)(a)">an entity or an employee, director, officer, or agent of an entity when acting within the scope of employment, for the good faith performance of:<subsection number="76-5b-208(6)(a)(i)">reporting or data preservation duties required under federal or state law; or</subsection><subsection number="76-5b-208(6)(a)(ii)">implementing a policy of attempting to prevent the presence of apparent child sexual abuse material on tangible or intangible property, or of detecting and reporting the presence of apparent child sexual abuse material on the property;</subsection></subsection><subsection number="76-5b-208(6)(b)">a law enforcement officer, a civilian employee of a law enforcement agency, or an independent contractor who is contracted with a law enforcement agency, acting within the scope of a criminal investigation;</subsection><subsection number="76-5b-208(6)(c)">an employee of a court who may be required to view apparent child sexual abuse material during the course of and within the scope of the employee's employment;</subsection><subsection number="76-5b-208(6)(d)">a juror who may be required to view apparent child sexual abuse material during the course of the individual's service as a juror;</subsection><subsection number="76-5b-208(6)(e)">an attorney or employee of an attorney who is required to view apparent child sexual abuse material during the course of a judicial process and while acting within the scope of employment;</subsection><subsection number="76-5b-208(6)(f)">an employee of the Department of Health and Human Services who is required to view apparent child sexual abuse material within the scope of the employee's employment;</subsection><subsection number="76-5b-208(6)(g)">an employee, independent contractor, or designated interviewer of a Children's Justice Center, who is required to view apparent child sexual abuse material within the scope of the employee's, independent contractor's, or designated interviewer's scope of employment or assignment; or</subsection><subsection number="76-5b-208(6)(h)">an attorney who is required to view apparent child sexual abuse material within the scope of the attorney's responsibility to represent the Department of Health and Human Services, including the divisions and offices within the Department of Health and Human Services.</subsection></subsection></section>