Bill > H5727

This bill prohibits minors from knowingly and voluntarily transmitting or posting indecent visual depictions of themselves or other minors on any website, including social media. It considers this a status offense that will be referred to the family court, which will determine whether the purpose of the transmission or posting was for harassment in deciding appropriate punishment. The bill also prohibits minors from threatening to transmit or post such depictions to obtain a benefit or from demanding payment for removing the depiction, punishable by up to one year at the Rhode Island training school. Minors adjudicated under this law will not be charged under the existing child pornography law or subject to sex offender registration requirements.