Bill Text: NY A04921 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Relates to the promotion and possession of a sexual performance by a child; creates various degrees of crimes relating to promotion of an obscene sexual performance by a child, possession of an obscene sexual performance by a child, promoting a sexual performance by a child, and possessing a sexual performance by a child.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-15 - enacting clause stricken [A04921 Detail]
Download: New_York-2013-A04921-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 4921 2013-2014 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y February 13, 2013 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. GABRYSZAK, TITONE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. McDONOUGH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to disseminating indecent material to minors in the first degree, promoting and possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child, and promoting and possessing a sexual performance by a child; and to amend the civil rights law, in relation to a child victim's right of privacy THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 235.21 of the penal law, as added 2 by chapter 600 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows: 3 3. Knowing the character and content of the communication which, in 4 whole or in part, depicts OR DESCRIBES, EITHER IN WORDS OR IMAGES actual 5 or simulated nudity, sexual conduct or sado-masochistic abuse, and which 6 is harmful to minors, he OR SHE intentionally uses any TELEPHONIC COMMU- 7 NICATION, ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION OR computer communication system 8 allowing the input, output, examination or transfer, of computer data or 9 computer programs from one computer to another, to initiate or engage in 10 such communication with a person who is a minor OR A PERSON WHO, REGARD- 11 LESS OF HIS OR HER AGE, IS A POLICE OFFICER AND THE ACTOR REASONABLY 12 BELIEVES SUCH OFFICER TO BE A MINOR. 13 S 2. Section 235.22 of the penal law, as added by chapter 600 of the 14 laws of 1996, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 8 of the laws of 2007, 15 subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 264 of the laws of 2003, is amended 16 to read as follows: 17 S 235.22 Disseminating indecent material to minors in the first degree. 18 A person is guilty of disseminating indecent material to minors in the 19 first degree when: 20 1. knowing the character and content of the communication which, in 21 whole or in part, depicts or describes, either in words or images actual 22 or simulated nudity, sexual conduct or sado-masochistic abuse, and which EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD08037-01-3 A. 4921 2 1 is harmful to minors, he OR SHE intentionally uses any TELEPHONIC COMMU- 2 NICATION, ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION OR computer communication system 3 allowing the input, output, examination or transfer, of computer data or 4 computer programs from one computer to another, to initiate or engage in 5 such communication with a person who is a minor OR A PERSON WHO, REGARD- 6 LESS OF HIS OR HER AGE, IS A POLICE OFFICER AND THE ACTOR REASONABLY 7 BELIEVES SUCH OFFICER TO BE A MINOR; and 8 2. by means of such communication he OR SHE importunes, invites or 9 induces a minor OR A PERSON WHO, REGARDLESS OF HIS OR HER AGE, IS A 10 POLICE OFFICER AND THE ACTOR REASONABLY BELIEVES SUCH OFFICER TO BE A 11 MINOR to engage in sexual intercourse, oral sexual conduct or anal sexu- 12 al conduct, or sexual contact with him OR HER, or to engage in a sexual 13 performance, obscene sexual performance, or sexual conduct for his OR 14 HER benefit. 15 Disseminating indecent material to minors in the first degree is a 16 class D felony. 17 S 3. Subdivisions 1, 2, 4 and 6 of section 263.00 of the penal law, 18 subdivisions 1 and 2 as amended by chapter 1 of the laws of 2000 and 19 subdivisions 4 and 6 as added by chapter 910 of the laws of 1977, are 20 amended to read as follows: 21 1. "Sexual performance" means any performance or part thereof which[, 22 for purposes of section 263.16 of this article, includes sexual conduct 23 by a child less than sixteen years of age or, for purposes of section 24 263.05 or 263.15 of this article,] includes sexual conduct, OR WHAT 25 REASONABLY APPEARS TO BE SEXUAL CONDUCT, by a child less than seventeen 26 years of age. 27 2. "Obscene sexual performance" means any performance which[, for 28 purposes of section 263.11 of this article, includes sexual conduct by a 29 child less than sixteen years of age or, for purposes of section 263.10 30 of this article,] includes sexual conduct, OR WHAT REASONABLY APPEARS TO 31 BE SEXUAL CONDUCT, by a child less than seventeen years of age, in any 32 material which is obscene, as such term is defined in section 235.00 of 33 this chapter. 34 4. "Performance" means any play, motion picture, photograph [or], 35 dance, FILM, VIDEO, DIGITAL IMAGE OR DATA STORED ON A COMPUTER DISK OR 36 BY ELECTRONIC MEANS WHERE SUCH DATA IS CAPABLE OF CONVERSION INTO A 37 VISUAL IMAGE. Performance also means any other visual representation 38 exhibited before an audience. 39 6. "Simulated" means the explicit depiction of any of the conduct set 40 forth in subdivision three of this section which creates the appearance 41 of such conduct [and which exhibits any uncovered portion of the 42 breasts, genitals or buttocks]. 43 S 4. Section 263.10 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 1 of the 44 laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows: 45 S 263.10 Promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child IN THE 46 SECOND DEGREE. 47 A person is guilty of promoting an obscene sexual performance by a 48 child IN THE SECOND DEGREE when, knowing the character and content ther- 49 eof, he OR SHE produces, directs or promotes any obscene performance 50 which includes sexual conduct, OR WHAT REASONABLY APPEARS TO BE SEXUAL 51 CONDUCT, by a child less than seventeen years of age. 52 Promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child IN THE SECOND 53 DEGREE is a class D felony. 54 S 5. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 263.10-a to read 55 as follows: A. 4921 3 1 S 263.10-A PROMOTING AN OBSCENE SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD IN THE 2 FIRST DEGREE. 3 A PERSON IS GUILTY OF PROMOTING AN OBSCENE SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A 4 CHILD IN THE FIRST DEGREE, WHEN KNOWING THE CHARACTER AND CONTENT THERE- 5 OF, HE OR SHE PRODUCES, DIRECTS OR PROMOTES: 6 1. TEN OR MORE OBSCENE PERFORMANCES WHICH INCLUDE SEXUAL CONDUCT, OR 7 WHAT REASONABLY APPEARS TO BE SEXUAL CONDUCT, BY A CHILD LESS THAN 8 SEVENTEEN YEARS OF AGE, OR 9 2. ANY OBSCENE PERFORMANCE WHICH INCLUDES SEXUAL CONDUCT, OR WHAT 10 REASONABLY APPEARS TO BE SEXUAL CONDUCT, BY A CHILD LESS THAN SEVENTEEN 11 YEARS OF AGE AND HE OR SHE PROMOTES SUCH PERFORMANCE TO A CHILD LESS 12 THAN SEVENTEEN YEARS OF AGE, OR TO A PERSON WHO, REGARDLESS OF HIS OR 13 HER AGE, IS A POLICE OFFICER AND THE ACTOR REASONABLY BELIEVES SUCH 14 OFFICER TO BE A CHILD LESS THAN SEVENTEEN YEARS OF AGE. 15 PROMOTING AN OBSCENE SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD IN THE FIRST DEGREE 16 IS A CLASS C FELONY. 17 S 6. Section 263.11 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 456 of the 18 laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows: 19 S 263.11 Possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child IN THE 20 THIRD DEGREE. 21 A person is guilty of possessing an obscene sexual performance by a 22 child IN THE THIRD DEGREE when, knowing the character and content there- 23 of, he OR SHE knowingly has in his OR HER possession or control, or 24 knowingly accesses with intent to view, any obscene performance which 25 includes sexual conduct, OR WHAT REASONABLY APPEARS TO BE SEXUAL 26 CONDUCT, by a child less than [sixteen] SEVENTEEN years of age. 27 Possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child IN THE THIRD 28 DEGREE is a class E felony. 29 S 7. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 263.12 to read 30 as follows: 31 S 263.12 POSSESSING AN OBSCENE SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD IN THE 32 SECOND DEGREE. 33 A PERSON IS GUILTY OF POSSESSING AN OBSCENE SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A 34 CHILD IN THE SECOND DEGREE WHEN, KNOWING THE CHARACTER AND CONTENT THER- 35 EOF, HE OR SHE KNOWINGLY HAS IN HIS OR HER POSSESSION OR CONTROL TEN OR 36 MORE OBSCENE PERFORMANCES WHICH INCLUDE SEXUAL CONDUCT, OR WHAT REASON- 37 ABLY APPEARS TO BE SEXUAL CONDUCT, BY A CHILD LESS THAN SEVENTEEN YEARS 38 OF AGE. 39 POSSESSING AN OBSCENE SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD IN THE SECOND 40 DEGREE IS A CLASS D FELONY. 41 S 8. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 263.13 to read 42 as follows: 43 S 263.13 POSSESSING AN OBSCENE SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD IN THE 44 FIRST DEGREE. 45 A PERSON IS GUILTY OF POSSESSING AN OBSCENE SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A 46 CHILD IN THE FIRST DEGREE WHEN, KNOWING THE CHARACTER AND CONTENT THERE- 47 OF, HE OR SHE KNOWINGLY HAS IN HIS OR HER POSSESSION OR CONTROL ONE 48 HUNDRED OR MORE OBSCENE PERFORMANCES WHICH INCLUDE SEXUAL CONDUCT, OR 49 WHAT REASONABLY APPEARS TO BE SEXUAL CONDUCT, BY A CHILD LESS THAN 50 SEVENTEEN YEARS OF AGE. 51 POSSESSING AN OBSCENE SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD IN THE FIRST 52 DEGREE IS A CLASS C FELONY. 53 S 9. Section 263.15 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 1 of the 54 laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows: 55 S 263.15 Promoting a sexual performance by a child IN THE SECOND DEGREE. A. 4921 4 1 A person is guilty of promoting a sexual performance by a child IN THE 2 SECOND DEGREE when, knowing the character and content thereof, he OR SHE 3 produces, directs or promotes any performance which includes sexual 4 conduct, OR WHAT REASONABLY APPEARS TO BE SEXUAL CONDUCT, by a child 5 less than seventeen years of age. 6 Promoting a sexual performance by a child IN THE SECOND DEGREE is a 7 class D felony. 8 S 10. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 263.15-a to 9 read as follows: 10 S 263.15-A PROMOTING A SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD IN THE FIRST 11 DEGREE. 12 A PERSON IS GUILTY OF PROMOTING A SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD IN THE 13 FIRST DEGREE WHEN, KNOWING THE CHARACTER AND CONTENT THEREOF, HE OR SHE 14 PRODUCES, DIRECTS OR PROMOTES: 15 1. TEN OR MORE PERFORMANCES WHICH INCLUDE SEXUAL CONDUCT, OR WHAT 16 REASONABLY APPEARS TO BE SEXUAL CONDUCT, BY A CHILD LESS THAN SEVENTEEN 17 YEARS OF AGE, OR 18 2. ANY PERFORMANCE WHICH INCLUDES SEXUAL CONDUCT, OR WHAT REASONABLY 19 APPEARS TO BE SEXUAL CONDUCT, BY A CHILD LESS THAN SEVENTEEN YEARS OF 20 AGE AND HE OR SHE PROMOTES SUCH PERFORMANCE TO A CHILD LESS THAN SEVEN- 21 TEEN YEARS OF AGE, OR TO A PERSON WHO, REGARDLESS OF HIS OR HER AGE, IS 22 A POLICE OFFICER AND THE ACTOR REASONABLY BELIEVES SUCH OFFICER TO BE A 23 CHILD LESS THAN SEVENTEEN YEARS OF AGE. 24 PROMOTING A SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD IN THE FIRST DEGREE IS A 25 CLASS C FELONY. 26 S 11. Section 263.16 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 456 of 27 the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows: 28 S 263.16 Possessing a sexual performance by a child IN THE THIRD DEGREE. 29 A person is guilty of possessing a sexual performance by a child when, 30 knowing the character and content thereof, he OR SHE knowingly has in 31 his OR HER possession or control, or knowingly accesses with intent to 32 view, any performance which includes sexual conduct, OR WHAT REASONABLY 33 APPEARS TO BE SEXUAL CONDUCT, by a child less than [sixteen] SEVENTEEN 34 years of age. 35 Possessing a sexual performance by a child IN THE THIRD DEGREE is a 36 class E felony. 37 S 12. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 263.17 to read 38 as follows: 39 S 263.17 POSSESSING A SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD IN THE SECOND 40 DEGREE. 41 A PERSON IS GUILTY OF POSSESSING A SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD IN 42 THE SECOND DEGREE WHEN, KNOWING THE CHARACTER AND CONTENT THEREOF, HE OR 43 SHE KNOWINGLY HAS IN HIS OR HER POSSESSION OR CONTROL TEN OR MORE 44 PERFORMANCES WHICH INCLUDE SEXUAL CONDUCT, OR WHAT REASONABLY APPEARS TO 45 BE SEXUAL CONDUCT, BY A CHILD LESS THAN SEVENTEEN YEARS OF AGE. 46 POSSESSING A SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD IN THE SECOND DEGREE IS A 47 CLASS D FELONY. 48 S 13. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 263.18 to read 49 as follows: 50 S 263.18 POSSESSING A SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD IN THE FIRST DEGREE. 51 A PERSON IS GUILTY OF POSSESSING A SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD IN 52 THE FIRST DEGREE WHEN, KNOWING THE CHARACTER AND CONTENT THEREOF, HE OR 53 SHE KNOWINGLY HAS IN HIS OR HER POSSESSION OR CONTROL ONE HUNDRED OR 54 MORE PERFORMANCES WHICH INCLUDE SEXUAL CONDUCT, OR WHAT REASONABLY 55 APPEARS TO BE SEXUAL CONDUCT, BY A CHILD LESS THAN SEVENTEEN YEARS OF 56 AGE. A. 4921 5 1 POSSESSING A SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD IN THE FIRST DEGREE IS A 2 CLASS C FELONY. 3 S 14. Subdivision 1 of section 263.20 of the penal law, as amended by 4 chapter 1 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows: 5 1. Under this article, it shall be an affirmative defense that the 6 defendant in good faith reasonably believed the person appearing in the 7 performance was[, for purposes of section 263.11 or 263.16 of this arti- 8 cle, sixteen years of age or over or, for purposes of section 263.05, 9 263.10 or 263.15 of this article,] seventeen years of age or over. 10 S 15. Section 263.25 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 1 of the 11 laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows: 12 S 263.25 Proof of age of child. 13 Whenever it becomes necessary for the purposes of this article to 14 determine whether a child who participated in a sexual performance was 15 [under an age specified in this article] LESS THAN SEVENTEEN YEARS OF 16 AGE, the court or jury may make such determination by any of the follow- 17 ing: personal inspection of the child; inspection of [a photograph or 18 motion picture which constituted] the sexual performance; oral testimony 19 by a witness to the sexual performance as to the age of the child based 20 upon the child's appearance; expert medical testimony based upon the 21 appearance of the child in the sexual performance; and any other method 22 authorized by any applicable provision of law or by the rules of 23 evidence at common law. 24 S 16. Subdivision 1 of section 50-b of the civil rights law, as 25 amended by chapter 320 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as 26 follows: 27 1. The identity of any victim of a sex offense, as defined in article 28 one hundred thirty, TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE, TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE, or 29 section 255.25, 255.26 or 255.27 of the penal law, or of an offense 30 involving the alleged transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus, 31 shall be confidential. No report, paper, picture, photograph, court file 32 or other documents, in the custody or possession of any public officer 33 or employee, which identifies such a victim shall be made available for 34 public inspection. No such public officer or employee shall disclose any 35 portion of any police report, court file, or other document, which tends 36 to identify such a victim except as provided in subdivision two of this 37 section. 38 S 17. This act shall take effect on the first of November next 39 succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.