Substitute Senate Bill No. 1439 seeks to amend the definition of "child sexual abuse material" in Connecticut law by repealing Section 53a-193 and introducing a broader definition. The new definition includes any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person under sixteen years of age or a subject that appears indistinguishable from a person under that age. The bill clarifies that the determination of indistinguishability will be made by a trier of fact, and it specifies that "indistinguishable" refers to depictions that an ordinary person would conclude are of an actual person under sixteen engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Notably, the bill excludes drawings, cartoons, sculptures, or paintings from this definition.

The legislation is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and is expected to have fiscal implications for the state, potentially increasing costs for the Department of Correction and the Judicial Department due to the expanded definition of offenses related to child sexual abuse material. This could result in penalties ranging from class A misdemeanors to class B felonies, leading to increased costs for incarceration and probation. The bill also anticipates a potential revenue gain for the General Fund from fines associated with these offenses, ultimately aiming to strengthen protections against child sexual exploitation by broadening the legal framework surrounding child sexual abuse material.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
JUD Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 739: