SENATOR APPLAUDS HOUSE COMMITTEE VOTE FOR ONLINE CHILD SAFETY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                        Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Contact: Senator Joseph Foster

(603) 271-2111

SENATOR APPLAUDS HOUSE COMMITTEE VOTE FOR ONLINE CHILD SAFETY

CONCORD – Senator Joseph Foster praised the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee today for supporting legislation that sets tougher laws to protect children from online predators and child pornographers.

“I pleased with the committee vote in support of the Online Child Safety Act and to see that the legislation is moving forward. Some of the changes the committee has recommended may warrant further discussion but I gratified to see their support for the intent of the bill,” Foster (D-Nashua) said.

The bill recommended for passage by the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee changes the definition of “child” to anyone under age 18. The Senate version defines a child as anyone under age 16. The committee amendment also expanded on language intended to prevent evidence in a child pornography case from being distributed further.

The Online Child Safety Act was sponsored by Foster (D-Nashua), who worked with Governor John Lynch to modernize and strengthen the state’s laws covering Internet solicitation of children, child pornography and indecent exposure via new technologies such as web cams.

“The Internet holds tremendous opportunity, but it also has the potential to be a dangerous place for kids,” Foster said. He noted a national study that found approximately one in seven young people who use the Internet received unwanted sexual solicitations online.

 The legislation builds on the Child Protection Act passed in 2006, which also was sponsored by Senator Foster. Numerous law enforcement officers, including police, county prosecutors and the state Attorney General support the legislation.

Senate Bill 495 strengthens the penalties in existing law for enticing a child over the Internet, and provides enhanced penalties for repeat offenders; it overhauls and expands existing child pornography laws to better reflect the victimization that occurs when images of sexually abused children are created and distributed; and it closes a loophole so that sex offenders using web cams can be held accountable.