BILL NUMBER: S3591
SPONSOR: ASHBY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring age
verification for internet pornography websites
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation would require pornography websites to verify that all
users of their content are 18 years of age or older.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the general business law by adding new section 390-f
to mandate pornography websites to verify a user's age before allowing
access. Only users 18 years of age or older would be allowed access.
Websites would also be given leeway to establish a password-protected
account if the age verification is performed monthly and a password is
reset monthly.
Failure to perform age verification may result in a noncompliance
notification by the attorney general and a civil penalty of up to
$50,000 per day.
The stipulations of this legislation would not apply to bona fide news
organizations or public interest broadcast.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The internet is a dangerous place for children, rife with sexual materi-
al that is harmful to minors. The ease of access to this material is
downright scary. This legislation seeks to prioritize the protection of
children by requiring pornography websites to verify the age of its
users. Upon verification that a user is 18 years of age or older, access
to the site would be given.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
90 days after it becomes law; however, effective immediately, the addi-
tion, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for
the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to
be made and completed on or before such effective date.