Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=sb447%20intr.htm&yr=2017&sesstype=RS&i=447
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 23:36:29+00:00

Document:
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §61-8G-1, §61-8G-2, §61-8G-3, §61-8G-4, §61-8G-5 and §61-8G-6, all relating to prohibiting retailers from selling or leasing products that make content accessible on the Internet unless the product contains an active and operating digital blocking capability that renders obscene material inaccessible; providing exceptions; defining terms; establishing a fee; creating a special fund; designating how moneys from the fund may be spent; and providing for injunctive relief, civil actions and criminal penalties.
ARTICLE 8G. RETAILERS REQUIRED TO ENSURE CERTAIN PRODUCTS CONTAIN DIGITAL BLOCKING CAPABILITY.
"Consumer" means an individual who purchases or leases for personal, family, or household purposes a product that makes content accessible on the Internet.
"Obscene" has the meaning assigned by section five-b, article twelve, chapter eight of this code.
"Retailer" means a person who is engaged in the business of selling or leasing directly to a consumer a product that makes content accessible on the Internet.
(a) Except as provided by subsection (d) of this section, a retailer may not sell or lease to a consumer a product that makes content accessible on the Internet unless the product contains an active and operating digital blocking capability that renders obscene material inaccessible.
(C) Has in place procedures for evaluating reports made under paragraph (B) of this subdivision and, if necessary, updating the digital blocking capability’s filters in a reasonable amount of time.
(c) Except as provided by subsection (d) of this section, a retailer may not provide to a consumer methods, source code, or other operating instructions for deactivating a product’s digital blocking capability.
§61-8G-3. Remission and use of fee.
(a) Each quarter, a retailer shall remit the fee collected under subdivision (4), subsection (d), section two of this article to the State Treasurer in the manner prescribed by the Treasurer.
(4) Any state agency or organization for the purpose of conducting human trafficking enforcement programs.
(a) If it appears that a retailer is in violation of this article, the Attorney General or a prosecuting attorney may institute an action of injunctive relief to restrain the retailer from continuing the violation.
(b) The Attorney General or a prosecuting attorney may recover reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining injunctive relief under this section, including reasonable attorney’s fees.
A consumer injured by a violation of this article may bring an action for recovery of damages. The damages awarded may not be less than the amount the consumer paid the retailer to purchase or lease the product with respect to which the violation occurred, plus reasonable attorney’s fees.
(a) A retailer violating this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or confined in jail not more than twelve months, or both fined and confined, if the consumer is younger than eighteen years of age.
(b) A retailer violating this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or confined in jail not more than six months, or both fined and confined, if the consumer is older than eighteen years of age.
(c) With the consent of the appropriate local prosecuting attorney, the Attorney General has concurrent jurisdiction with that consenting local prosecutor to prosecute an offense under this section.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit retailers from selling or leasing products that make content accessible on the Internet unless the product contains an active and operating digital blocking capability that renders obscene material inaccessible. The bill provides exceptions. The bill defines terms. The bill establishes a fee. The bill creates a special fund. The bill designated how moneys from the fund may be spent. The bill provides for injunctive relief, civil actions and criminal penalties.

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