85R3655 EES-D     By: White H.B. No. 2266       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to requiring certain retailers to ensure that certain   products sold or leased by the retailers contain a digital blocking   capability that renders obscene material inaccessible; creating a   criminal offense.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle C, Title 5, Business & Commerce Code, is   amended by adding Chapter 113 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 113. RETAILERS REQUIRED TO ENSURE CERTAIN PRODUCTS CONTAIN   DIGITAL BLOCKING CAPABILITY          Sec. 113.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                (1)  "Consumer" means an individual who purchases or   leases for personal, family, or household purposes a product that   makes content accessible on the Internet.                 (2)  "Obscene" has the meaning assigned by Section   43.21, Penal Code.                (3)  "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.          Sec. 113.002.  DIGITAL BLOCKING CAPABILITY. (a) Except as   provided by Subsection (d), 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.           (b)  The digital blocking capability:                (1)  must block access to child pornography, revenge   pornography, and websites known to facilitate prostitution and   human trafficking;                 (2)  may not block access to social media websites that   provide a means for the websites' users to report obscene material   and have in place procedures for evaluating those reports and   removing obscene material; and                (3)  must be distributed by an entity that:                      (A)  regularly makes available to consumers   updates to the digital blocking capability's filters to ensure the   filters' effectiveness in blocking access to obscene material;                       (B)  maintains a website or telephone line that   consumers can use to report:                            (i)  obscene material that is not blocked by   the digital blocking capability's filters; and                             (ii)  material that is not obscene that is   blocked by the digital blocking capability's filters; and                       (C)  has in place procedures for evaluating   reports made under Paragraph (B) and, if necessary, updating the   digital blocking capability's filters in a reasonable amount of   time.          (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), a retailer may not   provide to a consumer methods, source code, or other operating   instructions for deactivating a product's digital blocking   capability.          (d)  A retailer may deactivate a product's digital blocking   capability if the consumer who purchased or leased the product:                (1)  requests in writing that the digital blocking   capability be deactivated;                (2)  presents identification verifying that the   consumer is at least 18 years of age;                 (3)  acknowledges a written warning regarding the   potential danger of deactivating the digital blocking capability;   and                (4)  pays a one-time fee of $20.           Sec. 113.003.  REMISSION AND USE OF FEE. (a) Each quarter,   a retailer shall remit the fee collected under Section   113.002(d)(4) to the comptroller in the manner prescribed by the   comptroller.          (b)  The comptroller shall deposit the fee to the credit of   the sexual assault program fund established by Section 420.008,   Government Code. Money deposited to that fund may be used only by:                (1)  the attorney general for grants:                      (A)  to faith-based groups, independent school   districts, and community action organizations for programs for   victims of human trafficking; and                      (B)  to prevent sex trafficking and to provide   services for victims of sex trafficking;                (2)  the Department of State Health Services for grants   to support programs assisting victims of human trafficking;                (3)  the office of the governor for grants to support   human trafficking prosecution projects; and                (4)  any state agency or organization for the purpose   of conducting human trafficking enforcement programs.          Sec. 113.004.  INJUNCTION. (a) If it appears that a   retailer is in violation of this chapter, the attorney general, a   district attorney, or a county attorney may institute an action of   injunctive relief to restrain the retailer from continuing the   violation.          (b)  The attorney general, a district attorney, or a county   attorney may recover reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining   injunctive relief under this section, including reasonable   attorney's fees.          Sec. 113.005.  CIVIL ACTION. A consumer injured by a   violation of this chapter 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.          Sec. 113.006.  CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) A retailer commits an   offense if the retailer violates this chapter.           (b)  An offense under this section is:                (1)  a Class A misdemeanor if the consumer is younger   than 18 years of age; and                 (2)  a Class C misdemeanor if the consumer is at least   18 years of age.          (c)  With the consent of the appropriate local district or   county attorney, the attorney general has concurrent jurisdiction   with that consenting local prosecutor to prosecute an offense under   this section.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.