1     
CAUSE OF ACTION FOR MINORS INJURED BY PORNOGRAPHY

2     
2017 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Todd Weiler

5     
House Sponsor: Keven J. Stratton

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends the Judicial Code to provide for a cause of action for minors injured
10     by pornography.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     enacts definitions;
14          ▸     provides exemptions;
15          ▸     establishes liability;
16          ▸     provides a safe harbor; and
17          ▸     addresses damages and class actions.
18     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19          None
20     Other Special Clauses:
21          None
22     Utah Code Sections Affected:
23     ENACTS:
24          78B-6-2100, Utah Code Annotated 1953
25          78B-6-2101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
26          78B-6-2102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
27          78B-6-2103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
28          78B-6-2104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
29     


30     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
31          Section 1. Section 78B-6-2100 is enacted to read:
32     
Part 21. Cause of Action for Minors Injured by Pornographic Material

33          78B-6-2100. Title.
34          This part is known as "Cause of Action for Minors Injured by Pornographic Material."
35          Section 2. Section 78B-6-2101 is enacted to read:
36          78B-6-2101. Definitions.
37          As used in this part:
38          (1) "Minor" means an individual less than 18 years of age.
39          (2) "Pornographic material" means material that:
40          (a) the average person, applying contemporary community standards, finds that, taken
41     as a whole, appeals to prurient interest in sex;
42          (b) is patently offensive in the description or depiction of nudity, sexual conduct,
43     sexual excitement, sadomasochistic abuse, or excretion; and
44          (c) taken as a whole does not have serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
45          Section 3. Section 78B-6-2102 is enacted to read:
46          78B-6-2102. Exemptions.
47          (1) If the conditions of Subsection (2) are met, this part does not apply to:
48          (a) the following, as defined in the Communications Act of 1934, as amended:
49          (i) an interactive computer service;
50          (ii) a telecommunications service, information service, or mobile service, including a
51     commercial mobile service; or
52          (iii) a multichannel video programming distributor;
53          (b) an Internet service provider;
54          (c) a provider of an electronic communications service;
55          (d) a distributor of Internet-based video services;
56          (e) a host company as defined in Section 76-10-1230; or
57          (f) a distributor of electronic or computerized game software that users manipulate

58     through interactive devices.
59          (2) This part does not apply to an entity described in Subsection (1) if:
60          (a) the distribution of pornographic material by the entity occurs only incidentally
61     through the entity's function of:
62          (i) transmitting or routing data from one person to another person;
63          (ii) providing a connection between one person and another person; or
64          (iii) providing data storage space or data caching to a person;
65          (b) the entity does not intentionally aid or abet in the distribution of the pornographic
66     material; and
67          (c) the entity does not knowingly receive from or through a person who distributes the
68     pornographic material a fee greater than the fee generally charged by the entity, as a specific
69     condition for permitting the person to distribute the pornographic material.
70          Section 4. Section 78B-6-2103 is enacted to read:
71          78B-6-2103. Liability -- Safe harbor.
72          (1) A person who predominately distributes or otherwise predominately provides
73     pornographic material to consumers is liable to a person if:
74          (a) at the time the pornographic material is viewed by the person, the person is a minor;
75     and
76          (b) the pornographic material is the proximate cause for the person being harmed
77     physically or psychologically, or by emotional or medical illnesses as a result of that
78     pornographic material.
79          (2) Nothing in this part affects any private right of action existing under other law,
80     including contract.
81          (3) Notwithstanding Subsection (1), a person who distributes or otherwise provides
82     pornographic material is not liable under this section if the person who distributes or otherwise
83     provides pornographic material:
84          (a) provides a warning that:
85          (i) is conspicuous;

86          (ii) appears before the pornographic material can be accessed; and
87          (iii) consists of a good faith effort to warn persons accessing the pornographic material
88     that the pornographic material may be harmful to minors; and
89          (b) makes a good faith effort to verify the age of a person accessing the pornographic
90     material.
91          (4) Subsection (3) may not be interpreted as exempting a person from complying with
92     Title 13, Chapter 39, Child Protection Registry.
93          Section 5. Section 78B-6-2104 is enacted to read:
94          78B-6-2104. Damages -- Class action.
95          (1) If a court finds that a person violates Section 78B-6-2103, the court may award the
96     plaintiff:
97          (a) actual damages; and
98          (b) punitive damages, if it is proven that the person targeted minors.
99          (2) A class action may be brought under this part in accordance with Utah Rules of
100     Civil Procedure, Rule 23.