SB 119-BAN ONLINE DIST. OF PORNOGRAPHY TO MINORS  9:14:39 AM SENATOR FRENCH introduced SB 119. SB 119 would make electronic distribution of indecent materials to minors a felony under Alaska law. SB 119 will provide a safety net to help protect Alaska's children from sexual predators. 9:15:47 AM CHAIR SEEKINS authorized Senator French to call the witnesses. MR. DAVE PARKER, supervising sergeant, crimes against children unit, Anchorage Police Department, testified in support of SB 119. The Internet has become a candy store for perpetrators. Online victimization is efficient for perpetrators using chat rooms and sending pornography. Alaska law does not currently address a way to prosecute distribution of pornography to minors. 9:18:53 AM MR. VANDEGRIFF agreed with Mr. Parker's comments and referred to his online experience portraying the role of a 13-year-old girl. He added it was amazing how quickly predators sent him digital pornographic pictures. 9:20:50 AM MS. ANNE CARPENETI said the DOL supports SB 119 but is concerned that it only prohibits providing pornographic materials to young people on the Internet. It is currently not illegal to provide pornographic material in any form in the state of Alaska. She asked Senator French his rationale for distinguishing one type of distribution. SENATOR FRENCH explained that a home computer is highly private and pornographic materials are delivered to the child in their home. Online pornography differs from other forms of pornography because it is aimed specifically at children in their homes. 9:22:42 AM SENATOR GUESS asked Ms. Carpeneti about material given specifically to a child. MS. CARPENETI advised it is not currently against the law to give pornographic material to a child. SENATOR FRENCH stated that SB 119 does aim at something police officers are currently seeing. 9:23:57 AM MS. CARPENETI commented the courts have interpreted pornographic material as something that is not protected by the privacy provision. 9:25:47 AM CHAIR SEEKINS asked Ms. Carpeneti if a minor has the right to privacy to obtain objectionable material. MS. CARPENETI remarked society adopts law limiting children's rights in terms of sexual behavior in many ways. CHAIR SEEKINS pondered at what age a person obtains the right to privacy concerning objectionable material. SENATOR FRENCH commented the age of consent in Alaska is 16. 9:28:44 AM CHAIR SEEKINS asked if pay per view X-rated television would violate SB 119. SENATOR FRENCH admitted he contemplated an amendment that would add the word "knowingly." To violate SB 119 someone would have to knowingly distribute pornographic material to children. 9:31:43 AM MS. CARPENETI advised Senator French SB 119 would need to be added to sex offender statutes. CHAIR SEEKINS agreed. CHAIR SEEKINS asked Senator French to collaborate with the DOL to make SB 119 conform to current statutes. SB 119 will be held until the next committee meeting.