BILL NUMBER: AB 2642	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Campos

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   An act relating to minors.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2642, as introduced, Campos. Minors: sexualized portrayal.
   Existing law makes it a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the
state prison for 16 months, or 2 or 3 years, or in a county jail for
up to one year, or by a fine not exceeding $2,500, or by both the
fine and imprisonment, to knowingly possess or control any matter
depicting a person under 18 years of age engaging in or simulating
sexual conduct.
   This bill would state that it is the intent of the Legislature to
enact legislation to limit the public display of sexualized images of
female minors by restricting the advertising of products, services,
and entertainment that portray female minors in a sexualized manner.

   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (1) Pornography has moved out of its previous hiding places to
gain mainstream acceptance and social value.
   (2) The imagery, values, and aesthetics of pornography are now
embedded in all areas of popular culture.
   (3) Representations of girls and women in sexual poses are
commonplace.
   (4) Advertising, music videos, video games, commercial films, and
other cultural products are all a vehicle for this aesthetic,
particularly in products targeting younger audiences.
   (5) Girls are encouraged to adopt a sexy appearance and behavior
before they are able to understand sexuality, feel sexual desire, or
have the critical ability to make responsible decisions regarding the
risk of sexual intimacy.
   (6) High media consumption has been linked to aggressive behavior,
early sexualization, drug and alcohol consumption, unhealthy food
choices, childhood obesity, negative self-image, and negative school
performance.
   (7) Early sexualization is linked to unwanted pregnancies and a
rise in sexually transmitted infections.
   (8) Sexual initiation before the age of 13 has been linked to the
use of weapons, interpersonal violence, and experimentation with
drugs and alcohol.
   (9) Early sexual initiation is inversely correlated to the use of
coercion. The younger a girl is at sexual initiation, the higher the
chance she has been forced or coerced.
   (10) While sexually precocious boys have high self-esteem,
sexually precocious girls have low self-esteem.
   (11) The erotization of images contributes to the fetishization of
girls in the media. Erotized and passive images of girls encourage a
devaluation of their contribution to society. The representation of
girls as legitimate sex objects encourages sexual exploitation. Girls
learn to see and value themselves as sex objects.
   (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to
limit the public display of sexualized images of female minors by
restricting the advertising of products, services, and entertainment
that portray female minors in a sexualized manner.