Amended IN Assembly August 15, 2022 Amended IN Assembly June 23, 2022 Amended IN Assembly June 09, 2022 Amended IN Assembly June 02, 2022 Amended IN Senate January 24, 2022 Amended IN Senate May 20, 2021 Amended IN Senate April 29, 2021 Amended IN Senate April 13, 2021 Amended IN Senate March 05, 2021 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 53Introduced by Senator Leyva(Principal coauthor: Senator Gonzalez)(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Cristina Garcia)(Coauthors: Senators Limn, Rubio, and Skinner)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Aguiar-Curry, Petrie-Norris, and Luz Rivas)December 07, 2020An act to add Section 1708.88 to the Civil Code, relating to unsolicited images. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 53, as amended, Leyva. Unsolicited images.Existing law creates a private cause of action against a person who intentionally distributes material that exposes an intimate body part of another person or shows that other person engaging in sexual conduct if the person knew that the other person had a reasonable expectation that the material would remain private.This bill would create a private cause of action against a person 18 years of age or older who knowingly sends an unsolicited image, as specified, by electronic means depicting obscene material, as defined. The bill would entitle the plaintiff to recover economic and noneconomic damages or statutory damages of a sum not less than $1,500 but not more than $30,000, as well as punitive damages, reasonable attorneys fees and costs, and other available relief, including injunctive relief, as specified.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 1708.88 is added to the Civil Code, to read:1708.88. (a) A private cause of action lies against a person 18 years of age or older who knowingly sends an image, that the person knows or reasonably should know is unsolicited, by electronic means, depicting obscene material.(b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:(1) An image includes, but is not limited to, a moving visual image.(2) Obscene material means material, including, but not limited to, images depicting a person engaging in an act of sexual intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation, sexual penetration, or masturbation, or depicting the exposed genitals or anus of any person, taken as a whole, that to the average person, applying contemporary statewide standards, appeals to the prurient interest, that, taken as a whole, depicts or describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and that, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.(3) An image is unsolicited if the recipient has not consented to or has expressly forbidden the receipt of the image.(c) (1) A prevailing plaintiff who suffers harm as a result of receiving an image in violation of subdivision (a) may recover economic and noneconomic damages proximately caused by the receipt of the image, including damages for emotional distress.(2) A prevailing plaintiff who suffers harm as a result of receiving an image, the receipt of which had been expressly forbidden by the plaintiff, in violation of subdivision (a), may recover the following:(A) Economic and noneconomic damages proximately caused by the receipt of the image, including damages for emotional distress.(B) Upon request of the plaintiff at any time before the final judgment is rendered, the plaintiff may, in lieu of those damages specified in subparagraph (A), recover an award of statutory damages of a sum of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) but not more than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000).(C) Punitive damages.(3) A prevailing plaintiff described in paragraph (1) or (2) may recover the following: (A) Reasonable attorneys fees and costs.(B) Any other available relief, including injunctive relief.(4) The remedies provided by this section are cumulative and shall not be construed as restricting a remedy that is available under any other law.(d) This section does not apply to any of the following:(1) An internet service provider, mobile data provider, or operator of an online or mobile application, to the extent that the entity is transmitting, routing, or providing connections for electronic communications initiated by or at the direction of another person.(2) Any service that transmits images or audiovisual works, including, without limitation, an on-demand, subscription, or advertising-supported service.(3) A health care provider transmitting an image for a legitimate medical purpose.(4) An individual who has not expressly opted-out of receiving sexually explicit images on the service in which the image is transmitted, where such an option is available.
Amended IN Assembly August 15, 2022 Amended IN Assembly June 23, 2022 Amended IN Assembly June 09, 2022 Amended IN Assembly June 02, 2022 Amended IN Senate January 24, 2022 Amended IN Senate May 20, 2021 Amended IN Senate April 29, 2021 Amended IN Senate April 13, 2021 Amended IN Senate March 05, 2021 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 53Introduced by Senator Leyva(Principal coauthor: Senator Gonzalez)(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Cristina Garcia)(Coauthors: Senators Limn, Rubio, and Skinner)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Aguiar-Curry, Petrie-Norris, and Luz Rivas)December 07, 2020An act to add Section 1708.88 to the Civil Code, relating to unsolicited images. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 53, as amended, Leyva. Unsolicited images.Existing law creates a private cause of action against a person who intentionally distributes material that exposes an intimate body part of another person or shows that other person engaging in sexual conduct if the person knew that the other person had a reasonable expectation that the material would remain private.This bill would create a private cause of action against a person 18 years of age or older who knowingly sends an unsolicited image, as specified, by electronic means depicting obscene material, as defined. The bill would entitle the plaintiff to recover economic and noneconomic damages or statutory damages of a sum not less than $1,500 but not more than $30,000, as well as punitive damages, reasonable attorneys fees and costs, and other available relief, including injunctive relief, as specified.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
Amended IN Assembly August 15, 2022 Amended IN Assembly June 23, 2022 Amended IN Assembly June 09, 2022 Amended IN Assembly June 02, 2022 Amended IN Senate January 24, 2022 Amended IN Senate May 20, 2021 Amended IN Senate April 29, 2021 Amended IN Senate April 13, 2021 Amended IN Senate March 05, 2021
Amended IN Assembly August 15, 2022
Amended IN Assembly June 23, 2022
Amended IN Assembly June 09, 2022
Amended IN Assembly June 02, 2022
Amended IN Senate January 24, 2022
Amended IN Senate May 20, 2021
Amended IN Senate April 29, 2021
Amended IN Senate April 13, 2021
Amended IN Senate March 05, 2021
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 53
Introduced by Senator Leyva(Principal coauthor: Senator Gonzalez)(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Cristina Garcia)(Coauthors: Senators Limn, Rubio, and Skinner)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Aguiar-Curry, Petrie-Norris, and Luz Rivas)December 07, 2020
Introduced by Senator Leyva(Principal coauthor: Senator Gonzalez)(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Cristina Garcia)(Coauthors: Senators Limn, Rubio, and Skinner)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Aguiar-Curry, Petrie-Norris, and Luz Rivas)
December 07, 2020
An act to add Section 1708.88 to the Civil Code, relating to unsolicited images.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 53, as amended, Leyva. Unsolicited images.
Existing law creates a private cause of action against a person who intentionally distributes material that exposes an intimate body part of another person or shows that other person engaging in sexual conduct if the person knew that the other person had a reasonable expectation that the material would remain private.This bill would create a private cause of action against a person 18 years of age or older who knowingly sends an unsolicited image, as specified, by electronic means depicting obscene material, as defined. The bill would entitle the plaintiff to recover economic and noneconomic damages or statutory damages of a sum not less than $1,500 but not more than $30,000, as well as punitive damages, reasonable attorneys fees and costs, and other available relief, including injunctive relief, as specified.
Existing law creates a private cause of action against a person who intentionally distributes material that exposes an intimate body part of another person or shows that other person engaging in sexual conduct if the person knew that the other person had a reasonable expectation that the material would remain private.
This bill would create a private cause of action against a person 18 years of age or older who knowingly sends an unsolicited image, as specified, by electronic means depicting obscene material, as defined. The bill would entitle the plaintiff to recover economic and noneconomic damages or statutory damages of a sum not less than $1,500 but not more than $30,000, as well as punitive damages, reasonable attorneys fees and costs, and other available relief, including injunctive relief, as specified.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 1708.88 is added to the Civil Code, to read:1708.88. (a) A private cause of action lies against a person 18 years of age or older who knowingly sends an image, that the person knows or reasonably should know is unsolicited, by electronic means, depicting obscene material.(b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:(1) An image includes, but is not limited to, a moving visual image.(2) Obscene material means material, including, but not limited to, images depicting a person engaging in an act of sexual intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation, sexual penetration, or masturbation, or depicting the exposed genitals or anus of any person, taken as a whole, that to the average person, applying contemporary statewide standards, appeals to the prurient interest, that, taken as a whole, depicts or describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and that, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.(3) An image is unsolicited if the recipient has not consented to or has expressly forbidden the receipt of the image.(c) (1) A prevailing plaintiff who suffers harm as a result of receiving an image in violation of subdivision (a) may recover economic and noneconomic damages proximately caused by the receipt of the image, including damages for emotional distress.(2) A prevailing plaintiff who suffers harm as a result of receiving an image, the receipt of which had been expressly forbidden by the plaintiff, in violation of subdivision (a), may recover the following:(A) Economic and noneconomic damages proximately caused by the receipt of the image, including damages for emotional distress.(B) Upon request of the plaintiff at any time before the final judgment is rendered, the plaintiff may, in lieu of those damages specified in subparagraph (A), recover an award of statutory damages of a sum of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) but not more than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000).(C) Punitive damages.(3) A prevailing plaintiff described in paragraph (1) or (2) may recover the following: (A) Reasonable attorneys fees and costs.(B) Any other available relief, including injunctive relief.(4) The remedies provided by this section are cumulative and shall not be construed as restricting a remedy that is available under any other law.(d) This section does not apply to any of the following:(1) An internet service provider, mobile data provider, or operator of an online or mobile application, to the extent that the entity is transmitting, routing, or providing connections for electronic communications initiated by or at the direction of another person.(2) Any service that transmits images or audiovisual works, including, without limitation, an on-demand, subscription, or advertising-supported service.(3) A health care provider transmitting an image for a legitimate medical purpose.(4) An individual who has not expressly opted-out of receiving sexually explicit images on the service in which the image is transmitted, where such an option is available.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 1708.88 is added to the Civil Code, to read:1708.88. (a) A private cause of action lies against a person 18 years of age or older who knowingly sends an image, that the person knows or reasonably should know is unsolicited, by electronic means, depicting obscene material.(b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:(1) An image includes, but is not limited to, a moving visual image.(2) Obscene material means material, including, but not limited to, images depicting a person engaging in an act of sexual intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation, sexual penetration, or masturbation, or depicting the exposed genitals or anus of any person, taken as a whole, that to the average person, applying contemporary statewide standards, appeals to the prurient interest, that, taken as a whole, depicts or describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and that, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.(3) An image is unsolicited if the recipient has not consented to or has expressly forbidden the receipt of the image.(c) (1) A prevailing plaintiff who suffers harm as a result of receiving an image in violation of subdivision (a) may recover economic and noneconomic damages proximately caused by the receipt of the image, including damages for emotional distress.(2) A prevailing plaintiff who suffers harm as a result of receiving an image, the receipt of which had been expressly forbidden by the plaintiff, in violation of subdivision (a), may recover the following:(A) Economic and noneconomic damages proximately caused by the receipt of the image, including damages for emotional distress.(B) Upon request of the plaintiff at any time before the final judgment is rendered, the plaintiff may, in lieu of those damages specified in subparagraph (A), recover an award of statutory damages of a sum of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) but not more than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000).(C) Punitive damages.(3) A prevailing plaintiff described in paragraph (1) or (2) may recover the following: (A) Reasonable attorneys fees and costs.(B) Any other available relief, including injunctive relief.(4) The remedies provided by this section are cumulative and shall not be construed as restricting a remedy that is available under any other law.(d) This section does not apply to any of the following:(1) An internet service provider, mobile data provider, or operator of an online or mobile application, to the extent that the entity is transmitting, routing, or providing connections for electronic communications initiated by or at the direction of another person.(2) Any service that transmits images or audiovisual works, including, without limitation, an on-demand, subscription, or advertising-supported service.(3) A health care provider transmitting an image for a legitimate medical purpose.(4) An individual who has not expressly opted-out of receiving sexually explicit images on the service in which the image is transmitted, where such an option is available.
SECTION 1. Section 1708.88 is added to the Civil Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
1708.88. (a) A private cause of action lies against a person 18 years of age or older who knowingly sends an image, that the person knows or reasonably should know is unsolicited, by electronic means, depicting obscene material.(b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:(1) An image includes, but is not limited to, a moving visual image.(2) Obscene material means material, including, but not limited to, images depicting a person engaging in an act of sexual intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation, sexual penetration, or masturbation, or depicting the exposed genitals or anus of any person, taken as a whole, that to the average person, applying contemporary statewide standards, appeals to the prurient interest, that, taken as a whole, depicts or describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and that, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.(3) An image is unsolicited if the recipient has not consented to or has expressly forbidden the receipt of the image.(c) (1) A prevailing plaintiff who suffers harm as a result of receiving an image in violation of subdivision (a) may recover economic and noneconomic damages proximately caused by the receipt of the image, including damages for emotional distress.(2) A prevailing plaintiff who suffers harm as a result of receiving an image, the receipt of which had been expressly forbidden by the plaintiff, in violation of subdivision (a), may recover the following:(A) Economic and noneconomic damages proximately caused by the receipt of the image, including damages for emotional distress.(B) Upon request of the plaintiff at any time before the final judgment is rendered, the plaintiff may, in lieu of those damages specified in subparagraph (A), recover an award of statutory damages of a sum of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) but not more than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000).(C) Punitive damages.(3) A prevailing plaintiff described in paragraph (1) or (2) may recover the following: (A) Reasonable attorneys fees and costs.(B) Any other available relief, including injunctive relief.(4) The remedies provided by this section are cumulative and shall not be construed as restricting a remedy that is available under any other law.(d) This section does not apply to any of the following:(1) An internet service provider, mobile data provider, or operator of an online or mobile application, to the extent that the entity is transmitting, routing, or providing connections for electronic communications initiated by or at the direction of another person.(2) Any service that transmits images or audiovisual works, including, without limitation, an on-demand, subscription, or advertising-supported service.(3) A health care provider transmitting an image for a legitimate medical purpose.(4) An individual who has not expressly opted-out of receiving sexually explicit images on the service in which the image is transmitted, where such an option is available.
1708.88. (a) A private cause of action lies against a person 18 years of age or older who knowingly sends an image, that the person knows or reasonably should know is unsolicited, by electronic means, depicting obscene material.(b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:(1) An image includes, but is not limited to, a moving visual image.(2) Obscene material means material, including, but not limited to, images depicting a person engaging in an act of sexual intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation, sexual penetration, or masturbation, or depicting the exposed genitals or anus of any person, taken as a whole, that to the average person, applying contemporary statewide standards, appeals to the prurient interest, that, taken as a whole, depicts or describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and that, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.(3) An image is unsolicited if the recipient has not consented to or has expressly forbidden the receipt of the image.(c) (1) A prevailing plaintiff who suffers harm as a result of receiving an image in violation of subdivision (a) may recover economic and noneconomic damages proximately caused by the receipt of the image, including damages for emotional distress.(2) A prevailing plaintiff who suffers harm as a result of receiving an image, the receipt of which had been expressly forbidden by the plaintiff, in violation of subdivision (a), may recover the following:(A) Economic and noneconomic damages proximately caused by the receipt of the image, including damages for emotional distress.(B) Upon request of the plaintiff at any time before the final judgment is rendered, the plaintiff may, in lieu of those damages specified in subparagraph (A), recover an award of statutory damages of a sum of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) but not more than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000).(C) Punitive damages.(3) A prevailing plaintiff described in paragraph (1) or (2) may recover the following: (A) Reasonable attorneys fees and costs.(B) Any other available relief, including injunctive relief.(4) The remedies provided by this section are cumulative and shall not be construed as restricting a remedy that is available under any other law.(d) This section does not apply to any of the following:(1) An internet service provider, mobile data provider, or operator of an online or mobile application, to the extent that the entity is transmitting, routing, or providing connections for electronic communications initiated by or at the direction of another person.(2) Any service that transmits images or audiovisual works, including, without limitation, an on-demand, subscription, or advertising-supported service.(3) A health care provider transmitting an image for a legitimate medical purpose.(4) An individual who has not expressly opted-out of receiving sexually explicit images on the service in which the image is transmitted, where such an option is available.
1708.88. (a) A private cause of action lies against a person 18 years of age or older who knowingly sends an image, that the person knows or reasonably should know is unsolicited, by electronic means, depicting obscene material.(b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:(1) An image includes, but is not limited to, a moving visual image.(2) Obscene material means material, including, but not limited to, images depicting a person engaging in an act of sexual intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation, sexual penetration, or masturbation, or depicting the exposed genitals or anus of any person, taken as a whole, that to the average person, applying contemporary statewide standards, appeals to the prurient interest, that, taken as a whole, depicts or describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and that, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.(3) An image is unsolicited if the recipient has not consented to or has expressly forbidden the receipt of the image.(c) (1) A prevailing plaintiff who suffers harm as a result of receiving an image in violation of subdivision (a) may recover economic and noneconomic damages proximately caused by the receipt of the image, including damages for emotional distress.(2) A prevailing plaintiff who suffers harm as a result of receiving an image, the receipt of which had been expressly forbidden by the plaintiff, in violation of subdivision (a), may recover the following:(A) Economic and noneconomic damages proximately caused by the receipt of the image, including damages for emotional distress.(B) Upon request of the plaintiff at any time before the final judgment is rendered, the plaintiff may, in lieu of those damages specified in subparagraph (A), recover an award of statutory damages of a sum of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) but not more than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000).(C) Punitive damages.(3) A prevailing plaintiff described in paragraph (1) or (2) may recover the following: (A) Reasonable attorneys fees and costs.(B) Any other available relief, including injunctive relief.(4) The remedies provided by this section are cumulative and shall not be construed as restricting a remedy that is available under any other law.(d) This section does not apply to any of the following:(1) An internet service provider, mobile data provider, or operator of an online or mobile application, to the extent that the entity is transmitting, routing, or providing connections for electronic communications initiated by or at the direction of another person.(2) Any service that transmits images or audiovisual works, including, without limitation, an on-demand, subscription, or advertising-supported service.(3) A health care provider transmitting an image for a legitimate medical purpose.(4) An individual who has not expressly opted-out of receiving sexually explicit images on the service in which the image is transmitted, where such an option is available.
1708.88. (a) A private cause of action lies against a person 18 years of age or older who knowingly sends an image, that the person knows or reasonably should know is unsolicited, by electronic means, depicting obscene material.
(b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) An image includes, but is not limited to, a moving visual image.
(2) Obscene material means material, including, but not limited to, images depicting a person engaging in an act of sexual intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation, sexual penetration, or masturbation, or depicting the exposed genitals or anus of any person, taken as a whole, that to the average person, applying contemporary statewide standards, appeals to the prurient interest, that, taken as a whole, depicts or describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and that, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
(3) An image is unsolicited if the recipient has not consented to or has expressly forbidden the receipt of the image.
(c) (1) A prevailing plaintiff who suffers harm as a result of receiving an image in violation of subdivision (a) may recover economic and noneconomic damages proximately caused by the receipt of the image, including damages for emotional distress.
(2) A prevailing plaintiff who suffers harm as a result of receiving an image, the receipt of which had been expressly forbidden by the plaintiff, in violation of subdivision (a), may recover the following:
(A) Economic and noneconomic damages proximately caused by the receipt of the image, including damages for emotional distress.
(B) Upon request of the plaintiff at any time before the final judgment is rendered, the plaintiff may, in lieu of those damages specified in subparagraph (A), recover an award of statutory damages of a sum of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) but not more than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000).
(C) Punitive damages.
(3) A prevailing plaintiff described in paragraph (1) or (2) may recover the following:
(A) Reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(B) Any other available relief, including injunctive relief.
(4) The remedies provided by this section are cumulative and shall not be construed as restricting a remedy that is available under any other law.
(d) This section does not apply to any of the following:
(1) An internet service provider, mobile data provider, or operator of an online or mobile application, to the extent that the entity is transmitting, routing, or providing connections for electronic communications initiated by or at the direction of another person.
(2) Any service that transmits images or audiovisual works, including, without limitation, an on-demand, subscription, or advertising-supported service.
(3) A health care provider transmitting an image for a legitimate medical purpose.
(4) An individual who has not expressly opted-out of receiving sexually explicit images on the service in which the image is transmitted, where such an option is available.