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H. 5414
STATUS INFORMATION
Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Thayer, Anderson, Allison, Burns, Bales, McCravy, Jefferson, Clyburn, Hewitt, Bailey, Chumley, Gilliard, Haddon, Elliott, B. Cox, Trantham, G.R. Smith, Robinson, Hardee, Bennett, Bryant, Calhoon, Caskey, W. Cox, Crawford, Daning, Dillard, Erickson, Forrest, Gagnon, Gilliam, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Huggins, Morgan, W. Newton, Norrell, Parks, Pope, Ridgeway, Rivers, Sandifer, Spires, Stringer, Taylor, Toole, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Willis, Wooten and Yow
Document Path: l:\council\bills\df\13026cz20.docx
Introduced in the House on March 19, 2020
Introduced in the Senate on April 8, 2020
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Family and Veterans' Services
Summary: Internet pornography
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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3/19/2020 House Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate
(House Journal-page 21)
4/8/2020 Senate Introduced (Senate Journal-page 8)
4/8/2020 Senate Referred to Committee on Family and Veterans' Services
(Senate Journal-page 8)
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO ADDRESS AND TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT ITS CHILDREN FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD OF INTERNET PORNOGRAPHY.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly recognize that the average age of exposure to pornography is now between nine and eleven years old. With the advances of technology and the universal availability of the Internet, young children are exposed to what is now considered mainstream pornography which used to be referred to as hardcore pornography; and
Whereas, survivors of sex trafficking have reported being used to make pornography without their consent and the nature of pornography is often violent. Viewers are unable to know whether the acts were consensual or made with the exploitation of a sex trafficking victim; and
Whereas, pornography treats women and children as objects and depicts violence, rape, and abuse as if these acts were harmless. This substantially increases the risk of normalizing these deplorable activities; and
Whereas, the early exposure of pornography to teenagers and prepubescent children contributes to the hyper-sexualization of these individuals and may lead to low self-esteem, body-image disorders, an increase in problematic sexual activity and an increased desire among adolescents to engage in risky sexual behavior as pornography often serves as sex education and informs the sexual templates of teenagers and children; and
Whereas, it is critical to recognize the malignant effect that pornography has on society when it is distributed carelessly over the Internet without regard for the disturbing and lasting effects that it can cause; and
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly recognize that pornography is creating a public health crisis and action must be taken to address pornography in a manner similar to public health regulation used in the past to combat issues like smoking, lead poisoning, and HIV/AIDS; and
Whereas, addressing pornography must be done systemically by enacting policies that would help to prevent exposure and addiction, educate individuals on its harmful effects, and develop recovery plans while holding providers accountable. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize the need of the State of South Carolina to address and take steps to protect its children from the public health hazard of Internet pornography.
This web page was last updated on
April 10, 2020 at 2:27 PM