Rep. Rebimbas Supports “Sexting” Legislation

Representative Rosa C. Rebimbas (R-70) testifies in support of proposed “sexting” legislation before the Judiciary Committee Monday morning.

Sexting, defined as transmission and dissemination of nude or semi-nude images via phone or e-mail, has become more prevalent in recent years with the explosion of cell phone cameras and digital cameras.

House Bill 5533, “An Act Concerning Sexting” creates a lesser category for punishment for minors who are thirteen years of age or older but under eighteen years of age, who may knowingly possess and transmit any visual depiction of child pornography by means of an electronic communication device. State law currently treats possession of such images as child pornography.  Possession of child pornography is a felony and those convicted are forced to register as a sexual offender. This bill would make it a class A misdemeanor instead.

“Ignorance of the law is not a defense for violating the law,” Rep. Rebimbas said. “However, at times children do foolish acts without understanding the consequences.  This proposed bill allows the punishment to fit the crime and provides another option for prosecutors to hold minors accountable for their actions.”

The concept of this bill was created after many discussions with a variety of law enforcement officials, including members of the CT computer crimes unit, some State’s attorneys, and numerous students, parents and school administrators at public informational forums.

This bill is important in updating our penal code by incorporating electronic communication devices and identifying unlawful acts that minor children are committing without knowing it.  This bill takes a proactive role in recognizing the devastation our minor children would face if they were convicted under the current child pornography law.

Watch a video of her testimony.