Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1181 by Shaheen (Relating to restricting access to pornographic materials on certain websites and creating civil liability for certain actions that allow children to access pornographic materials.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined because the extent to which caseloads would increase in the state court system is unknown.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
The bill would amend the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to restrict access to pornographic materials on certain websites and to create civil liability for certain actions that allow children to access pornographic materials.
The bill would require organizations that own internet websites to have mechanisms for age verification as required by the bill. The bill would provide that an organization may be held liable if the organization does not include a mechanism for age verification. The bill would also provide that a person who uploads pornographic material to an Internet website may be held liable for damages if an individual below the age specified by the bill would access the materials on the website.
Based on the analysis of the Office of Court Administration, the fiscal implications to the state court system cannot be determined because the extent to which caseloads would increase under the provisions of the bill is unknown.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council