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Massachusetts Senate Bill 997: Applying the State's Harmful to Minors Law to Electronic Speech
Massachusetts Governor Duval Patrick signed S.B. 997 into law on April 12, 2010. Members of Media Coalition are currently challenging the law, which went into effect in July, in U.S. District Court. Read more about the case, ABFFE v. Coakley, here.
Legislative History
Senate Bill 997 passed through both of Masssachusetts' legislative chambers and was signed into law by the governor on April 12. The law went into effect on July 12. On March 30 - prior to the bill's passage - Media Coalition sent a letter urging Governor Duval Patrick to either veto the overbroad provisions in the bill or return it to the legislature for reconsideration. The problematic provisions, added late in the legislative process, expand the state's "harmful to minors" law to apply to electronic media in addition to traditional media. The Massachusetts law applies to both text and images deemed "harmful to minors" - whether or not the content is intended for minors' access.
Read the Full Text of S.B. 997 (PDF)
Read Media Coalition's Letter to the Governor
On April 5, Media Coalition sent a letter to Massachusetts Speaker of the House Robert De Leo, asking that Sections 2 and 3 of the bill be reconsidered by the legislature. Those section apply the harmful to minors law to phones and other devices capable of data transmission.
updated 4/12/10
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