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'Sexting' Bill Passes Senate Utilities Committee

TALLAHASSEE (CBS4)-A bill easing the penalties for "sexting" unanimously passed the Senate Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee on Monday, leaving it with just one stop to go.

The bill (SB 888) aims to create softer penalties for minors caught sexting, which is sending sexually explicit messages or photographs electronically.

Under current law, a minor caught transmitting sexual photos of another minor faces a felony conviction and registration as a sex offender. Under the bill, minors would face small fines and would not have to register as a sex offender, though the penalties escalate with repeat offenders. The penalties would increase slightly faster under an amendment approved by the committee, but minors would still be guilty of no more than a third-degree felony.

The bill now heads to the Senate Budget Committee before heading to the floor.

 

(© 2011 The News Service of Florida. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

 

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