Senators pass bill to fine those who download child pornography
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Senators pass bill to fine those who download child pornography

Date: February 25, 2010
By: Nick Berry
State Capitol Bureau
Links: SB 806

Intro:  The Senate unanimously passed a bill that allows exploited children to get money from pedophiles.
RunTime:  0:38
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: This bill, also known as "Masha's Law", would allow victims to sue people who download naked images of them for $150 thousand dollars.

Victims need to prove they were 14 years old or younger at the time the picture was taken - and that they suffered physical or mental injury. 

Jackson County Republican Senator Matt Bartle says the bill is an incentive to take action against Internet pedophiles.

Actuality:  BARTLE8.WAV
Run Time:  00:08
Description: "It mimics closely a federal law. This would bring the federal law and place it into the state statute books."

The bill would extend to anyone who downloaded child pornography in the last three years.

From the State Capitol, I'm Nick Berry.

Intro:  The Senate unanimously agreed to charge pedophiles for downloading naked pictures of children on the Internet.
RunTime:  0:40
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: There were no votes Thursday against a bill allowing victims 14 and under to sue people who download naked images of them.

Republican Senator Matt Bartle from Jackson County made the cutoff age 14 because he said this bill is designed to catch pedophiles, not statutory rapists.

Under current law, victim can sue for a 50 thousand dollar minimum.

Actuality:  BARTLE9.WAV
Run Time:  00:08
Description: "What this would do is create a hundred and 50 thousand dollar floor of actual damages on those cases."

According to the Massachusetts Senate website, under current federal law, downloading songs has a penalty three times higher than downloading child pornography.

From the State Capitol, I'm Nick Berry.