BILL NUMBER: SB 203 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 2, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Senator Harman
( Coauthors: Senators
Dutton, Huff, Runner, and Walters
)
( Coauthors: Assembly Members
Bill Berryhill, DeVore, Fletcher,
Harkey, Jeffries, Niello, and
Smyth )
FEBRUARY 23, 2009
An act to amend Sections 311, 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 311.4, 311.5,
311.7, 311.10, and 311.11 of the Penal Code, relating to child
pornography.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 203, as amended, Harman. Child pornography: separate offense
per child: Internet distribution.
Existing law includes provisions criminalizing conduct involving
obscene matter and child pornography. In People v. Hertzig (2007) 156
Cal.App.4th 398, the court, in interpreting one of these, a child
pornography possession provision, held that the possession of
multiple video images on a laptop computer was a single violation.
In People v. Manfredi (2008) 169 Cal.App.4th 622, the court, in
interpreting the same provision, held that the defendant's
simultaneous possession of multiple child pornography materials at
the same location was a single violation.
This bill would revise the provisions criminalizing conduct
involving obscene matter and child pornography to provide that the
depiction or involvement of each individual person pursuant to any of
those provisions shall constitute a distinct and separate offense.
Existing law defines the term "distribute" for purposes of crimes
relating to obscene matter.
This bill would include within the definition of "distribute"
making available for access or possession over the Internet.
By revising the definition of existing crimes to expand their
application, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 311 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
311. As used in this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Obscene matter" means matter, taken as a whole, that to the
average person, applying contemporary statewide standards, appeals to
the prurient interest, that, taken as a whole, depicts or describes
sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and that, taken as a
whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific
value.
(1) If it appears from the nature of the matter or the
circumstances of its dissemination, distribution, or exhibition that
it is designed for clearly defined deviant sexual groups, the appeal
of the matter shall be judged with reference to its intended
recipient group.
(2) In prosecutions under this chapter, if circumstances of
production, presentation, sale, dissemination, distribution, or
publicity indicate that matter is being commercially exploited by the
defendant for the sake of its prurient appeal, this evidence is
probative with respect to the nature of the matter and may justify
the conclusion that the matter lacks serious literary, artistic,
political, or scientific value.
(3) In determining whether the matter taken as a whole lacks
serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value in
description or representation of those matters, the fact that the
defendant knew that the matter depicts persons under the age of 16
years engaged in sexual conduct, as defined in subdivision (c) of
Section 311.4, is a factor that may be considered in making that
determination.
(b) "Matter" means any book, magazine, newspaper, or other printed
or written material, or any picture, drawing, photograph, motion
picture, or other pictorial representation, or any statue or other
figure, or any recording, transcription, or mechanical, chemical, or
electrical reproduction, or any other article, equipment, machine, or
material. "Matter" also means live or recorded telephone messages if
transmitted, disseminated, or distributed as part of a commercial
transaction.
(c) "Person" means any individual, partnership, firm, association,
corporation, limited liability company, or other legal entity.
(d) "Distribute" means transfer possession of, whether with or
without consideration, including making available for access or
possession over the Internet.
(e) "Knowingly" means being aware of the character of the matter
or live conduct.
(f) "Exhibit" means show.
(g) "Obscene live conduct" means any physical human body activity,
whether performed or engaged in alone or with other persons,
including but not limited to singing, speaking, dancing, acting,
simulating, or pantomiming, taken as a whole, that to the average
person, applying contemporary statewide standards, appeals to the
prurient interest and is conduct that, taken as a whole, depicts or
describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way and that, taken
as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or
scientific value.
(1) If it appears from the nature of the conduct or the
circumstances of its production, presentation, or exhibition that it
is designed for clearly defined deviant sexual groups, the appeal of
the conduct shall be judged with reference to its intended recipient
group.
(2) In prosecutions under this chapter, if circumstances of
production, presentation, advertising, or exhibition indicate that
live conduct is being commercially exploited by the defendant for the
sake of its prurient appeal, that evidence is probative with respect
to the nature of the conduct and may justify the conclusion that the
conduct lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific
value.
(3) In determining whether the live conduct taken as a whole lacks
serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value in
description or representation of those matters, the fact that the
defendant knew that the live conduct depicts persons under the age of
16 years engaged in sexual conduct, as defined in subdivision (c) of
Section 311.4, is a factor that may be considered in making that
determination.
(h) The Legislature expresses its approval of the holding of
People v. Cantrell, 7 Cal. App. 4th
Cal.App.4th 523, that, for the purposes of this chapter, matter
that "depicts a person under the age of 18 years personally engaging
in or personally simulating sexual conduct" is limited to visual
works that depict that conduct.
SEC. 2. Section 311.1 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
311.1. (a) Every person who knowingly sends or causes to be sent,
or brings or causes to be brought, into this state for sale or
distribution, or in this state possesses, prepares, publishes,
produces, develops, duplicates, or prints any representation of
information, data, or image, including, but not limited to, any film,
filmstrip, photograph, negative, slide, photocopy, videotape, video
laser disc, computer hardware, computer software, computer floppy
disc, data storage media, CD-ROM, or computer-generated equipment or
any other computer-generated image that contains or incorporates in
any manner, any film or filmstrip, with intent to distribute or to
exhibit to, or to exchange with, others, or who offers to distribute,
distributes, or exhibits to, or exchanges with, others, any obscene
matter, knowing that the matter depicts a person under the age of 18
years personally engaging in or personally simulating sexual conduct,
as defined in Section 311.4, shall be punished either by
imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year, by a fine not to
exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both the fine and
imprisonment, or by imprisonment in the state prison, by a fine not
to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by the fine and
imprisonment.
(b) This section does not apply to the activities of law
enforcement and prosecuting agencies in the investigation and
prosecution of criminal offenses or to legitimate medical,
scientific, or educational activities, or to lawful conduct between
spouses.
(c) This section does not apply to matter which depicts a child
under the age of 18 years , which child is legally
emancipated, including lawful conduct between spouses when one or
both are under the age of 18 years .
(d) It does not constitute a violation of this section for a
telephone corporation, as defined by Section 234 of the Public
Utilities Code, to carry or transmit messages described in this
chapter or perform related activities in providing telephone
services.
(e) The depiction of each individual person as described in this
section shall constitute a distinct and separate offense.
SEC. 3. Section 311.2 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
311.2. (a) Every person who knowingly sends or causes to be sent,
or brings or causes to be brought, into this state for sale or
distribution, or in this state possesses, prepares, publishes,
produces, or prints, with intent to distribute or to exhibit to
others, or who offers to distribute, distributes, or exhibits to
others, any obscene matter is for a first offense, guilty of a
misdemeanor. If the person has previously been convicted of any
violation of this section, the court may, in addition to the
punishment authorized in Section 311.9, impose a fine not exceeding
fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
(b) Every person who knowingly sends or causes to be sent, or
brings or causes to be brought, into this state for sale or
distribution, or in this state possesses, prepares, publishes,
produces, develops, duplicates, or prints any representation of
information, data, or image, including, but not limited to, any film,
filmstrip, photograph, negative, slide, photocopy, videotape, video
laser disc, computer hardware, computer software, computer floppy
disc, data storage media, CD-ROM, or computer-generated equipment or
any other computer-generated image that contains or incorporates in
any manner, any film or filmstrip, with intent to distribute or to
exhibit to, or to exchange with, others for commercial consideration,
or who offers to distribute, distributes, or exhibits to, or
exchanges with, others for commercial consideration, any obscene
matter, knowing that the matter depicts a person under the age of 18
years personally engaging in or personally simulating sexual conduct,
as defined in Section 311.4, is guilty of a felony and shall be
punished by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or six
years, or by a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000), in the absence of a finding that the defendant would be
incapable of paying that fine, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(c) Every person who knowingly sends or causes to be sent, or
brings or causes to be brought, into this state for sale or
distribution, or in this state possesses, prepares, publishes,
produces, develops, duplicates, or prints any representation of
information, data, or image, including, but not limited to, any film,
filmstrip, photograph, negative, slide, photocopy, videotape, video
laser disc, computer hardware, computer software, computer floppy
disc, data storage media, CD-ROM, or computer-generated equipment or
any other computer-generated image that contains or incorporates in
any manner, any film or filmstrip, with intent to distribute or
exhibit to, or to exchange with, a person 18 years of age or older,
or who offers to distribute, distributes, or exhibits to, or
exchanges with, a person 18 years of age or older any matter, knowing
that the matter depicts a person under the age of 18 years
personally engaging in or personally simulating sexual conduct, as
defined in Section 311.4, shall be punished by imprisonment in the
county jail for up to one year, or by a fine not exceeding two
thousand dollars ($2,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, or
by imprisonment in the state prison. It is not necessary to prove
commercial consideration or that the matter is obscene in order to
establish a violation of this subdivision. If a person has been
previously convicted of a violation of this subdivision, he or she is
guilty of a felony.
(d) Every person who knowingly sends or causes to be sent, or
brings or causes to be brought, into this state for sale or
distribution, or in this state possesses, prepares, publishes,
produces, develops, duplicates, or prints any representation of
information, data, or image, including, but not limited to, any film,
filmstrip, photograph, negative, slide, photocopy, videotape, video
laser disc, computer hardware, computer software, computer floppy
disc, data storage media, CD-ROM, or computer-generated equipment or
any other computer-generated image that contains or incorporates in
any manner, any film or filmstrip, with intent to distribute or
exhibit to, or to exchange with, a person under 18 years of age, or
who offers to distribute, distributes, or exhibits to, or exchanges
with, a person under 18 years of age any matter, knowing that the
matter depicts a person under the age of 18 years personally engaging
in or personally simulating sexual conduct, as defined in Section
311.4, is guilty of a felony. It is not necessary to prove commercial
consideration or that the matter is obscene in order to establish a
violation of this subdivision.
(e) Subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, do not apply to the
activities of law enforcement and prosecuting agencies in the
investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses, to legitimate
medical, scientific, or educational activities, or to lawful conduct
between spouses.
(f) This section does not apply to matter that depicts a legally
emancipated child under the age of 18 years or to lawful conduct
between spouses when one or both are under the age of 18 years.
(g) It does not constitute a violation of this section for a
telephone corporation, as defined by Section 234 of the Public
Utilities Code, to carry or transmit messages described in this
chapter or to perform related activities in providing telephone
services.
(h) The depiction of each individual person as described in this
section shall constitute a distinct and separate offense.
SEC. 4. Section 311.3 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
311.3. (a) A person is guilty of sexual exploitation of a child
if he or she knowingly develops, duplicates, prints, or exchanges any
representation of information, data, or image, including, but not
limited to, any film, filmstrip, photograph, negative, slide,
photocopy, videotape, video laser disc, computer hardware, computer
software, computer floppy disc, data storage media, CD-ROM, or
computer-generated equipment or any other computer-generated image
that contains or incorporates in any manner, any film or filmstrip
that depicts a person under the age of 18 years engaged in an act of
sexual conduct.
(b) As used in this section, "sexual conduct" means any of the
following:
(1) Sexual intercourse, including genital-genital, oral-genital,
anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or
opposite sex or between humans and animals.
(2) Penetration of the vagina or rectum by any object.
(3) Masturbation for the purpose of sexual stimulation of the
viewer.
(4) Sadomasochistic abuse for the purpose of sexual stimulation of
the viewer.
(5) Exhibition of the genitals or the pubic or rectal area of any
person for the purpose of sexual stimulation of the viewer.
(6) Defecation or urination for the purpose of sexual stimulation
of the viewer.
(c) Subdivision (a) does not apply to the activities of law
enforcement and prosecution agencies in the investigation and
prosecution of criminal offenses or to legitimate medical,
scientific, or educational activities, or to lawful conduct between
spouses.
(d) Every person who violates subdivision (a) shall be punished by
a fine of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) or by
imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by both
that fine and imprisonment. If the person has been previously
convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) or any section of this
chapter, he or she shall be punished by imprisonment in the state
prison.
(e) The provisions of this section do not apply to an employee of
a commercial film developer who is acting within the scope of his or
her employment and in accordance with the instructions of his or her
employer, provided that the employee has no financial interest in the
commercial developer by which he or she is employed.
(f) Subdivision (a) does not apply to matter that is unsolicited
and is received without knowledge or consent through a facility,
system, or network over which the person or entity has no control.
(g) The depiction of each individual person as described in this
section shall constitute a distinct and separate offense.
SEC. 5. Section 311.4 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
311.4. (a) Every person who, with knowledge that a person is a
minor, or who, while in possession of any facts on the basis of which
he or she should reasonably know that the person is a minor, hires,
employs, or uses the minor to do or assist in doing any of the acts
described in Section 311.2, shall be punished by imprisonment in the
county jail for up to one year, or by a fine not exceeding two
thousand dollars ($2,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, or
by imprisonment in the state prison. If the person has previously
been convicted of any violation of this section, the court may, in
addition to the punishment authorized in Section 311.9, impose a fine
not exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
(b) Every person who, with knowledge that a person is a minor
under the age of 18 years, or who, while in possession of any facts
on the basis of which he or she should reasonably know that the
person is a minor under the age of 18 years, knowingly promotes,
employs, uses, persuades, induces, or coerces a minor under the age
of 18 years, or any parent or guardian of a minor under the age of 18
years under his or her control who knowingly permits the minor
, to engage in or assist others to engage in
either posing or modeling alone or with others for purposes of
preparing any representation of information, data, or image,
including, but not limited to, any film, filmstrip, photograph,
negative, slide, photocopy, videotape, video laser disc, computer
hardware, computer software, computer floppy disc, data storage
media, CD-ROM, or computer-generated equipment or any other
computer-generated image that contains or incorporates in any manner,
any film, filmstrip, or a live performance involving ,
sexual conduct by a minor under the age of 18 years alone
or with other persons or animals, for commercial purposes, is guilty
of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison
for three, six, or eight years.
(c) Every person who, with knowledge that a person is a minor
under the age of 18 years, or who, while in possession of any facts
on the basis of which he or she should reasonably know that the
person is a minor under the age of 18 years, knowingly promotes,
employs, uses, persuades, induces, or coerces a minor under the age
of 18 years, or any parent or guardian of a minor under the age of 18
years under his or her control who knowingly permits the minor
, to engage in or assist others to engage in
either posing or modeling alone or with others for purposes of
preparing any representation of information, data, or image,
including, but not limited to, any film, filmstrip, photograph,
negative, slide, photocopy, videotape, video laser disc, computer
hardware, computer software, computer floppy disc, data storage
media, CD-ROM, or computer-generated equipment or any other
computer-generated image that contains or incorporates in any manner,
any film, filmstrip, or a live performance involving ,
sexual conduct by a minor under the age of 18 years alone
or with other persons or animals, is guilty of a felony. It is not
necessary to prove commercial purposes in order to establish a
violation of this subdivision.
(d) (1) As used in subdivisions (b) and (c), "sexual conduct"
means any of the following, whether actual or simulated: sexual
intercourse, oral copulation, anal intercourse, anal oral copulation,
masturbation, bestiality, sexual sadism, sexual masochism,
penetration of the vagina or rectum by any object in a lewd or
lascivious manner, exhibition of the genitals or pubic or rectal area
for the purpose of sexual stimulation of the viewer, any lewd or
lascivious sexual act as defined in Section 288, or excretory
functions performed in a lewd or lascivious manner, whether or not
any of the above conduct is performed alone or between members of the
same or opposite sex or between humans and animals. An act is
simulated when it gives the appearance of being sexual conduct.
(2) As used in subdivisions (b) and (c), "matter" means any film,
filmstrip, photograph, negative, slide, photocopy, videotape, video
laser disc, computer hardware, computer software, computer floppy
disc, or any other computer-related equipment or computer-generated
image that contains or incorporates in any manner, any film,
filmstrip, photograph, negative, slide, photocopy, videotape, or
video laser disc.
(e) This section does not apply to a legally emancipated minor or
to lawful conduct between spouses if one or both are under the age of
18 years .
(f) In every prosecution under this section involving a minor
under the age of 14 years at the time of the offense, the age of the
victim shall be pled and proven for the purpose of the enhanced
penalty provided in Section 647.6. Failure to plead and prove that
the victim was under the age of 14 years at the time of the offense
is not a bar to prosecution under this section if it is proven that
the victim was under the age of 18 years at the time of the offense.
(g) Violations of this section regarding each individual person as
specified above shall constitute a distinct and separate offense.
SEC. 6. Section 311.5 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
311.5. (a) Every person who writes, creates, or solicits the
publication or distribution of advertising or other promotional
material, or who in any manner promotes, the sale, distribution, or
exhibition of matter represented or held out by him or her
to be obscene, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b) The depiction of each individual person in material or matter
described in subdivision (a) shall constitute a distinct and separate
offense.
SEC. 7. Section 311.7 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
311.7. (a) Every person who, knowingly, as a condition to a sale,
allocation, consignment, or delivery for resale of any paper,
magazine, book, periodical, publication or other merchandise,
requires that the purchaser or consignee receive any obscene matter
or who denies or threatens to deny a franchise, revokes or threatens
to revoke, or imposes any penalty, financial or otherwise, by reason
of the failure of any person to accept obscene matter, or by reason
of the return of such obscene matter, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b) The depiction of each individual person in obscene matter as
provided in this section shall constitute a distinct and separate
offense.
SEC. 8. Section 311.10 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
311.10. (a) Any person who advertises for sale or distribution
any obscene matter knowing that it depicts a person under the age of
18 years personally engaging in or personally simulating sexual
conduct, as defined in Section 311.4, is guilty of a felony and is
punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or
four years, or in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine
not exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or by both such fine
and imprisonment.
(b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to the activities of law
enforcement and prosecution agencies in the investigation and
prosecution of criminal offenses.
(c) Advertisement as specified in subdivision (a) shall constitute
a distinct and separate offense for each individual person under 18
years of age depicted in the obscene matter.
SEC. 9. Section 311.11 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
311.11. (a) Every person who knowingly possesses or controls any
matter, representation of information, data, or image, including, but
not limited to, any film, filmstrip, photograph, negative, slide,
photocopy, videotape, video laser disc, computer hardware, computer
software, computer floppy disc, data storage media, CD-ROM, or
computer-generated equipment or any other computer-generated image
that contains or incorporates in any manner, any film or filmstrip,
the production of which involves the use of a person under the age of
18 years, knowing that the matter depicts a person under the age of
18 years personally engaging in or simulating sexual conduct, as
defined in subdivision (d) of Section 311.4, is guilty of a felony
and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison, or a
county jail for up to one year, or by a fine not exceeding two
thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), or by both the
that fine and imprisonment.
(b) Every person who commits a violation of subdivision (a), and
who has been previously convicted of a violation of this section, an
offense requiring registration under the Sex Offender Registration
Act, or an attempt to commit any of the above-mentioned offenses, is
guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state
prison for two, four, or six years.
(c) It is not necessary to prove that the matter is obscene in
order to establish a violation of this section.
(d) This section does not apply to drawings, figurines, statues,
or any film rated by the Motion Picture Association of America, nor
does it apply to live or recorded telephone messages when
transmitted, disseminated, or distributed as part of a commercial
transaction.
(e) The depiction of each individual person as described in this
section shall constitute a distinct and separate offense.
SEC. 10. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting Sections
2 to 9, inclusive, of this act to abrogate the holding in People v.
Hertzig (2007) 156 Cal.App.4th 398.
SEC. 11. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.