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First Substitute H.B. 18

Representative Paul Ray proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
MATERIAL HARMFUL TO MINORS

             2     
AMENDMENTS

             3     
2008 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Paul Ray

             6     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies the Criminal Code regarding materials harmful to minors. harmful to
             11      minors.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    amends the intent of a person dealing with material harmful to minors to include
             15      persons who believe the victim is a minor;
             16          .    modifies the definition of "restrict" regarding access to material harmful to minors
             17      by removing "age verification mechanism" as a form of restriction; and
             18          .    removes certain criminal penalties, imposes the standard of intentionally and
             19      knowingly, and imposes civil financial penalties regarding failure to comply with
             20      requirements that Internet service providers:
             21              .    provide information about filtering content; and
             22              .    restrict access to material harmful to minors.
             23      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             24          None
             25      Other Special Clauses:


             26          None
             27      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             28      AMENDS:
             29          76-10-1201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapters 123, and 337
             30          76-10-1206, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 337
             31          76-10-1230, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 337
             32          76-10-1231, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 337
             33          76-10-1233, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 322
             34     
             35      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             36          Section 1. Section 76-10-1201 is amended to read:
             37           76-10-1201. Definitions.
             38          For the purpose of this part:
             39          (1) "Blinder rack" means an opaque cover that covers the lower 2/3 of a material so
             40      that the lower 2/3 of the material is concealed from view.
             41          (2) "Contemporary community standards" means those current standards in the
             42      vicinage where an offense alleged under this part has occurred, is occurring, or will occur.
             43          (3) "Distribute" means to transfer possession of materials whether with or without
             44      consideration.
             45          (4) "Exhibit" means to show.
             46          (5) (a) "Harmful to minors" means that quality of any description or representation, in
             47      whatsoever form, of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sadomasochistic abuse when
             48      it:
             49          (i) taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest in sex [with] of minors;
             50          (ii) is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with
             51      respect to what is suitable material for minors; and
             52          (iii) taken as a whole, does not have serious value for minors.
             53          (b) Serious value includes only serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for
             54      minors.
             55          (6) (a) "Knowingly," regarding material or a performance, means an awareness,
             56      whether actual or constructive, of the character of the material or [of a] performance. [A]


             57          (b) As used in this Subsection (6), a person has constructive knowledge if a reasonable
             58      inspection or observation under the circumstances would have disclosed the nature of the
             59      subject matter and if a failure to inspect or observe is either for the purpose of avoiding the
             60      disclosure or is criminally negligent as described in Section 76-2-103 .
             61          (7) "Material" means anything printed or written or any picture, drawing, photograph,
             62      motion picture, or pictorial representation, or any statue or other figure, or any recording or
             63      transcription, or any mechanical, chemical, or electrical reproduction, or anything which is or
             64      may be used as a means of communication. Material includes undeveloped photographs,
             65      molds, printing plates, and other latent representational objects.
             66          (8) "Minor" means any person less than 18 years of age.
             67          (9) "Negligently" means simple negligence, the failure to exercise that degree of care
             68      that a reasonable and prudent person would exercise under like or similar circumstances.
             69          (10) "Nudity" means:
             70          (a) the showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, or buttocks, with less
             71      than an opaque covering;
             72          (b) the showing of a female breast with less than an opaque covering, or any portion of
             73      the female breast below the top of the areola; or
             74          (c) the depiction of covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state.
             75          (11) "Performance" means any physical human bodily activity, whether engaged in
             76      alone or with other persons, including singing, speaking, dancing, acting, simulating, or
             77      pantomiming.
             78          (12) "Public place" includes a place to which admission is gained by payment of a
             79      membership or admission fee, however designated, notwithstanding its being designated a
             80      private club or by words of like import.
             81          (13) "Sado-masochistic abuse" means:
             82          (a) flagellation or torture by or upon a person who is nude or clad in undergarments, a
             83      mask, or in a revealing or bizarre costume; or
             84          (b) the condition of being fettered, bound, or otherwise physically restrained on the part
             85      of a person clothed as described in Subsection (13)(a).
             86          (14) "Sexual conduct" means acts of masturbation, sexual intercourse, or any touching
             87      of a person's clothed or unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or, if the person is a female,


             88      breast, whether alone or between members of the same or opposite sex or between humans and
             89      animals in an act of apparent or actual sexual stimulation or gratification.
             90          (15) "Sexual excitement" means a condition of human male or female genitals when in
             91      a state of sexual stimulation or arousal, or the sensual experiences of humans engaging in or
             92      witnessing sexual conduct or nudity.
             93          Section 2. Section 76-10-1206 is amended to read:
             94           76-10-1206. Dealing in material harmful to a minor -- Exemptions for Internet
             95      service providers and hosting companies.
             96          (1) A person is guilty of dealing in material harmful to minors when, knowing or
             97      believing that a person is a minor, or having negligently failed to determine the proper age of a
             98      minor, the person intentionally or knowingly:
             99          (a) [intentionally] distributes or offers to distribute, exhibits or offers to exhibit, to a
             100      minor or a person the actor believes to be a minor, any material harmful to minors;
             101          (b) [intentionally] produces, presents, or directs any performance, before a minor[,] or
             102      a person the actor believes to be a minor, that is harmful to minors; or
             103          (c) [intentionally] participates in any performance, before a minor[,] or a person the
             104      actor believes to be a minor, that is harmful to minors.
             105          (2) (a) Each separate offense under this section is a third degree felony punishable by:
             106          (i) a minimum mandatory fine of not less than $1,000 plus $10 for each article
             107      exhibited up to the maximum allowed by law; and
             108          (ii) incarceration, without suspension of sentence, for a term of not less than 14 days.
             109          (b) This section supersedes Section 77-18-1 .
             110          (3) (a) If a defendant has already been convicted once under this section, each separate
             111      further offense is a second degree felony punishable by:
             112          (i) a minimum mandatory fine of not less than $5,000 plus $10 for each article
             113      exhibited up to the maximum allowed by law; and
             114          (ii) incarceration, without suspension of sentence, for a term of not less than one year.
             115          (b) This section supersedes Section 77-18-1 .
             116          (c) (i) This section does not apply to an Internet service provider, as defined in Section
             117      76-10-1230 , if:
             118          (A) the distribution of pornographic material by the Internet service provider occurs


             119      only incidentally through the Internet service provider's function of:
             120          (I) transmitting or routing data from one person to another person; or
             121          (II) providing a connection between one person and another person;
             122          (B) the Internet service provider does not intentionally aid or abet in the distribution of
             123      the pornographic material; and
             124          (C) the Internet service provider does not knowingly receive funds from or through a
             125      person who distributes the pornographic material in exchange for permitting the person to
             126      distribute the pornographic material.
             127          (ii) This section does not apply to a hosting company, as defined in Section
             128      76-10-1230 , if:
             129          (A) the distribution of pornographic material by the hosting company occurs only
             130      incidentally through the hosting company's function of providing data storage space or data
             131      caching to a person;
             132          (B) the hosting company does not intentionally engage, aid, or abet in the distribution
             133      of the pornographic material; and
             134          (C) the hosting company does not knowingly receive funds from or through a person
             135      who distributes the pornographic material in exchange for permitting the person to distribute,
             136      store, or cache the pornographic material.
             137          [(4) (a) A service provider, as defined in Section 76-10-1230 , is not negligent under
             138      this section if it complies with Section 76-10-1231 .]
             139          [(b) A content provider, as defined in Section 76-10-1230 , is not negligent under this
             140      section if it complies with Section 76-10-1233 .]
             141          Section 3. Section 76-10-1230 is amended to read:
             142           76-10-1230. Definitions.
             143          As used in Sections 76-10-1231 and 76-10-1233 :
             144          [(1) "Access restricted" means that a content provider limits access to material harmful
             145      to minors by:]
             146          [(a) properly rating content;]
             147          [(b) providing an age verification mechanism designed to prevent a minor's access to
             148      material harmful to minors, including requiring use of a credit card, adult access code, or
             149      digital certificate verifying age; or]


             150          [(c) any other reasonable measures feasible under available technology.]
             151          [(2)] (1) "Consumer" means a natural person residing in this state who subscribes to a
             152      service provided by a service provider for personal or residential use.
             153          [(3)] (2) "Content provider" means a person domiciled in Utah or that generates or
             154      hosts content in Utah, and that creates, collects, acquires, or organizes electronic data for
             155      electronic delivery to a consumer with the intent of making a profit.
             156          [(4)] (3) (a) "Hosting company" means a person that provides services or facilities for
             157      storing or distributing content over the Internet without editorial or creative alteration of the
             158      content.
             159          (b) A hosting company may have policies concerning acceptable use without becoming
             160      a content provider under Subsection [(3)] (2).
             161          [(5)] (4) (a) "Internet service provider" means a person engaged in the business of
             162      providing a computer communications facility in Utah, with the intent of making a profit,
             163      through which a consumer may obtain access to the Internet.
             164          (b) "Internet service provider" does not include a common carrier if it provides only
             165      telecommunications service.
             166          [(6)] (5) "Properly rated" means content using a labeling system to label material
             167      harmful to minors provided by the content provider in a way that:
             168          (a) accurately apprises a consumer of the presence of material harmful to minors; and
             169          (b) allows the consumer the ability to control access to material harmful to minors
             170      based on the material's rating by use of reasonably priced commercially available software,
             171      including software in the public domain.
             172          (6) "Restrict" means to limit access to material harmful to minors by:
             173          (a) properly rating content; or
             174          (b) any other reasonable measures feasible under available technology.
             175          (7) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (7)(b), "service provider" means:
             176          (i) an Internet service provider; or
             177          (ii) a person who otherwise provides an Internet access service to a consumer in Utah
             178      with the intent of making a profit.
             179          (b) "Service provider" does not include a person who does not terminate a service in
             180      this state, but merely transmits data through:


             181          (i) a wire;
             182          (ii) a cable; or
             183          (iii) an antenna.
             184          (c) "Service provider," notwithstanding Subsection (7)(b), includes a person who meets
             185      the requirements of Subsection (7)(a) and leases or rents a wire or cable for the transmission of
             186      data.
             187          Section 4. Section 76-10-1231 is amended to read:
             188           76-10-1231. Data service providers -- Internet content harmful to minors.
             189          (1) (a) Upon request by a consumer, a service provider shall filter content to prevent
             190      the transmission of material harmful to minors to the consumer.
             191          (b) A service provider complies with Subsection (1)(a) if it uses a generally accepted
             192      and commercially reasonable method of filtering.
             193          (2) At the time of a consumer's subscription to a service provider's service, or at the
             194      time this section takes effect if the consumer subscribes to the service provider's service at the
             195      time this section takes effect, the service provider shall notify the consumer in a conspicuous
             196      manner that the consumer may request to have material harmful to minors blocked under
             197      Subsection (1).
             198          (3) (a) A service provider may comply with Subsection (1) by:
             199          (i) providing in-network filtering to prevent receipt of material harmful to minors,
             200      provided that the filtering does not affect or interfere with access to Internet content for
             201      consumers who do not request filtering under Subsection (1); or
             202          (ii) providing software, or engaging a third party to provide software, for
             203      contemporaneous installation on the consumer's computer that blocks, in an easy-to-enable and
             204      commercially reasonable manner, receipt of material harmful to minors.
             205          (b) A service provider may charge a consumer for providing filtering under Subsection
             206      (3)(a).
             207          (4) If the attorney general determines that a service provider violates Subsection (1) or
             208      (2), the attorney general shall:
             209          (a) notify the service provider that the service provider is in violation of Subsection (1)
             210      or (2); and
             211          (b) notify the service provider that the service provider has 30 days to comply with the


             212      provision being violated or be subject to Subsection (5).
             213          (5) A service provider that intentionally or knowingly violates Subsection (1) or (2) is[:
             214      (a)] subject to a civil fine of $2,500 for each separate violation of Subsection (1) or (2), up to
             215      $10,000 per day[; and].
             216          [(b) guilty of a class A misdemeanor if:]
             217          [(i) the service provider knowingly or intentionally fails to comply with Subsection (1);
             218      or]
             219          [(ii) the service provider fails to provide the notice required by Subsection (2).]
             220          (6) A proceeding to impose a civil fine under Subsection (5)(a) may only be brought by
             221      the attorney general in a court of competent jurisdiction.
             222          (7) (a) The Division of Consumer Protection within the Department of Commerce
             223      shall, in consultation with other entities as the Division of Consumer Protection considers
             224      appropriate, test the effectiveness of a service provider's system for blocking material harmful
             225      to minors under Subsection (1) at least annually.
             226          (b) The results of testing by the Division of Consumer Protection under Subsection
             227      (7)(a) shall be made available to:
             228          (i) the service provider that is the subject of the test; and
             229          (ii) the public.
             230          (c) The Division of Consumer Protection shall make rules in accordance with Title 63,
             231      Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to fulfil its duties under this section.
             232          Section 5. Section 76-10-1233 is amended to read:
             233           76-10-1233. Content providers -- Material harmful to minors.
             234          (1) A content provider that is domiciled in Utah, or generates or hosts content in Utah,
             235      shall restrict access to material harmful to minors.
             236          (2) If the attorney general determines that a content provider violates Subsection (1),
             237      the attorney general shall:
             238          (a) notify the content provider that the content provider is in violation of Subsection
             239      (1); and
             240          (b) notify the content provider that the content provider has 30 days to comply with
             241      Subsection (1) or be subject to Subsection (3).
             242          (3) (a) If a content provider intentionally or knowingly violates this section more than


             243      30 days after receiving the notice provided[ in] under Subsection (2), the content provider [is
             244      guilty of a third degree felony.] subject to a civil fine of $2,500 for each separate violation of
             245      Subsection (1), up to $10,000 per day.
             246          (b) A proceeding to impose the civil fine under this section may be brought only by the
             247      state attorney general and shall be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction.


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