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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 10, 2019 10:10 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Clint Owlett |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Anti-Pornography on Commonwealth Provided Technology Legislation (former HB 642) |
| I plan to re-introduce legislation in the near future, which will make it a Misdemeanor of the Third Degree (Punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a $2500 fine) for a Commonwealth employee to knowingly utilize a Commonwealth-owned computer network or cellular phone to display, disseminate, view, access, transfer, transmit or retransmit any photograph, video, or other visual depiction of explicit sexual materials. The bill will exempt conduct that is authorized or required by official duties and will not apply to someone who received and viewed the offensive material without prior knowledge of its content, so long as they didn't forward it to anyone and notified their immediate supervisor upon receiving such e-mail. This legislation was introduced last session as HB 642 (Baker), in response to revelations that a number of Commonwealth employees routinely used Commonwealth-owned computers, networks, and email accounts to view and exchange pornography. Though most state agencies have "policies" prohibiting such use, there is no state law that currently bans this blatant misuse of state assets or provides penalties for violations. Please consider joining me in the effort to put an end to such conduct by co-sponsoring this legislation. Previous Co-sponsors: HELM, V. BROWN, MURT, MILLARD, PICKETT, STAATS, DeLUCA, READSHAW, PASHINSKI, ZIMMERMAN, RAPP, SOLOMON, GILLEN, DUSH, B. MILLER and KAUFFMAN |
Memo Updated: January 10, 2019 10:12 AM