2023 -- H 5756

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LC001909

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- CHILDREN

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Roberts, Rea, Chippendale, Casey, Cardillo, Phillips,
Lima, Costantino, Casimiro, and Noret

     Date Introduced: February 21, 2023

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 11-9 of the General Laws entitled "Children" is hereby amended by

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adding thereto the following section:

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     11-9-1.7. Prohibition of obscene material.

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     (a) Definitions. As used in this section:

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     (1) "Minor" means any person not having reached eighteen (18) years of age.

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     (2) "Sexually explicit conduct" means graphic sexual intercourse, including genital-genital,

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oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex, or

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lascivious simulated sexual intercourse where the genitals, female breast, or pubic area of any

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person is exhibited; masturbation; or graphic or simulated lascivious exhibition of the anus,

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genitals, or pubic area of any person.

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     (3) "Visual depiction" includes, but is not limited to, any undeveloped film or videotape,

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any data stored on a computer disk or by electronic means, which is capable of conversion into a

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visual image, any drawing, cartoon, sculpture, photograph, film, video, picture, or computer or

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computer-generated image or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or

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other means.

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     (b) Violations. It is a violation of this section for any person who:

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     (1) Knowingly produces, distributes, receives, or possesses with intent to distribute, a

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visual depiction of any kind, including a drawing, cartoon, sculpture, photograph, film, video,

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picture, or computer or computer-generated image or picture, whether made or produced by

 

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electronic, mechanical, or other means, that depicts a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct

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and is obscene and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value; or attempts or

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conspires to do so;

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     (2) Knowingly possesses a visual depiction of any kind, including a drawing, cartoon,

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sculpture, photograph, film, video, picture, or computer or computer-generated image or picture,

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whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means that depicts a minor engaging

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in sexually explicit conduct and is obscene and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific

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value; or

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     (3) Knowingly makes available to or distributes to a minor, any obscene, lewd, lascivious,

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or sexually explicit conduct book, pamphlet, picture, film, paper, letter, writing, print, drawing,

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figure, image or other cartoon, sculpture, photograph, video or computer or computer-generated

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image or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means and lacks

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serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

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     (c) Affirmative defenses.

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     It shall be an affirmative defense to a charge of violating subsection (b)(2) of this section

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that the defendant:

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     (1) Possessed less than three (3) such visual depictions; and

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     (2) Promptly and in good faith and without retaining or allowing any person, other than a

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law enforcement agency, to access any image or copy of it:

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     (i) Took reasonable steps to destroy each such visual depiction; or

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     (ii) Reported the matter to a law enforcement agency and afforded that agency access to

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each such visual depiction.

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     (d) Penalties.

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     (1) Whoever violates or attempts or conspires to violate subsection (b)(1) of this section

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shall be subject to a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisoned for not

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more than fifteen (15) years, or both.

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     (2) Whoever violates or attempts or conspires to violate subsection (b)(2) of this section

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shall be subject to a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisoned for not

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more than five (5) years, or both.

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     (3) Whoever violates or attempts or conspires to violate subsection (b)(3) of this section

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shall be subject to a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or imprisoned for not

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more than two (2) years, or both.

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     (4) It is not a required element of any offense under this section that the minor depicted

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actually exists.

 

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     (e) Severability. If any provision or provisions of this section, or the application of this

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section to any person or circumstance is held invalid by a court of competent authority, that

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invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this section which can be given effect

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without that invalid provision or provisions or application of the provision or provisions, and to

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this end the provisions of this section are declared to be separable and severable.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- CHILDREN

***

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     This act would prohibit the distribution, transfer, or possession of any material that depicts

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a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, is obscene and lacks serious literary, artistic,

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political, or scientific value with violators subject to imprisonment and fines ranging from two (2)

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to fifteen (15) years and fines from one thousand dollars ($1,000) to five thousand dollars ($5,000).

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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