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AL HB441
Bill
Status
5/9/2023
Primary Sponsor
Ben Robbins
Click for details
AI Summary
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Establishes legislative findings declaring pornography a public health crisis, citing concerns about children's exposure and hypersexualization, with average age of first exposure at 11-12 years old.
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Prohibits commercial entities from publishing material harmful to minors on the internet unless they implement reasonable age verification methods using government-issued identification or commercial transactional data verification.
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Requires commercial entities distributing material harmful to minors to register with the Consumer Protection Division, pay a one-time registration fee and annual license fee, with 50 percent of fees deposited to the Attorney General's office and 50 percent to the Special Mental Health Trust Fund.
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Establishes civil penalties of up to $2,000 per violation and allows parents or guardians to sue for compensatory damages, court costs, and attorney fees if a minor accesses the material due to non-compliance with age verification requirements.
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Exempts Internet service providers, search engines, cloud service providers, and news-gathering organizations from liability for merely providing access or connection to websites containing prohibited material.
Legislative Description
Relating to consumer protection; to provide legislative findings; to provide definitions; to provide prohibitions on the online distribution of material harmful to minors; to require a license for the distribution of material harmful to minors; and to provide civil and criminal penalties for violations; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.
Last Action
Indefinitely Postpone
5/31/2023