ACM S.B. 674 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE S.B. 674 By: Brown (Place) 5-1-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Currently, the Texas Penal Code is not keeping pace with technology in the area of child pornography, and a loophole exists which impedes the prosecution of possession or promotion of child pornography when images are depicted or distributed by computer. This legislation incorporates all types of technology into a newly created definition of "visual material" in order to better prosecute child pornography crimes. PURPOSE S.B. 674, as proposed, establishes the prosecution of the offense of possession or promotion of child pornography. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 43.26(a), (b), and (f), Penal Code, to provide that a person commits an offense if the person knowingly or intentionally possesses visual material, rather than material containing a film image, that visually depicts a child younger than 18 years of age at the time the image of the child was made who is engaging in sexual conduct; and the person knows that the material depicts the child as such. Deletes the definition of "film image." Defines "visual material" as any film, photograph, videotape, negative, slide, or any photographic reproduction incorporating or containing any of these mediums; any disk, diskette, or other physical medium that allows an image to be displayed on a computer or other video screen; and any image transmitted to a computer or other video screen by telephone line, cable, satellite transmission, or other method. Provides that a person who possesses visual material that contains six or more identical visual depictions of, rather than film images depicting, a child as described by Subsection (a)(1) is presumed to possess the material, rather than film images, with the intent to promote the material. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.