AB1029: Bill Text

AB1029,4,2 100.54 Family and school communications protection registry. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB1029,4,3 (a) "Contact point" means any of the following:

AB1029,4,4 1. Electronic mail address.

AB1029,4,5 2. Instant messaging identity.

AB1029,4,6 3. Wireless telephone number.

AB1029,4,7 4. Identifier for a wireless device that is capable of receiving a text message.

AB1029,4,8 5. Electronic identifier.

AB1029,4,11 (b) "Electronic identifier" means a number, code, or other identifier that may be used to initiate an electronic communication with a minor, as determined by the department by rule.

AB1029,4,13 (c) "Registered contact point" means a contact point registered with the department under sub. (2) (b).

AB1029,4,15 (d) "Registered domain name" means an Internet domain name registered with the department under sub. (2) (c).

AB1029,4,19 (e) "Restricted message" means any communication in which the primary purpose is to encourage the recipient to purchase or view obscene material, as defined in s. 944.21 (2) (c), or material that depicts sexually explicit conduct as defined in s. 948.01 (7).

AB1029,4,22 (f) "Send" means to initiate transmission of a message, but does not include transmission of a message by an Internet service provider or wireless service provider.

AB1029,4,23 (2) Registry of contact points and domain names; rules.

AB1029,5,3 (a) There is created a family and school communications protection registry consisting of contact points registered with the department under par. (b) and domain names registered with the department under par. (c).

AB1029,5,9 (b) Upon the request of a parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a minor, the department shall include in the registry a contact point that pertains to the minor or to the parent, guardian, or legal custodian. The department may not charge a fee for registering a contact point. A registration under this paragraph shall expire 3 years after the request is made, and may be renewed for additional 3-year periods at the request of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian.

AB1029,5,16 (c) Upon the request of an administrator of a school, as defined in s. 118.257 (1) (d), or a state institution that primarily serves minors, the department shall include in the registry an Internet domain name associated with the school or institution, if a minor may obtain an electronic mail address that contains the domain name. The department may not charge a fee for registering a domain name. A registration under this paragraph shall remain effective for 3 years, and may be renewed for additional 3-year periods at the request of the administrator.

AB1029,5,17 (d) The department shall promulgate rules for all of the following:

AB1029,5,18 1. Establishing, maintaining, and monthly updating the registry under par. (a).

AB1029,5,23 2. Establishing a procedure by which a person who wishes to send a restricted message to a contact point may verify that the contact point is not a registered contact point and is not an electronic mail address containing a registered domain name. The department shall ensure that the procedure under this subdivision is consistent with any industry standards that relate to such a procedure.

AB1029,6,3 (e) The department shall charge a fee to perform the verification procedure under par. (d) 2. The fee under this paragraph may not exceed one-half of one cent for each contact point for which a person requests verification.

AB1029,6,7 (f) The department shall establish a mechanism to allow a person who registers a contact point to report a message sent to the contact point in violation of this section. If the department receives a report that a message has been sent in violation of this section, the department shall notify the department of justice.

AB1029,6,9 (g) The department may contract with a 3rd party to create and operate the verification procedure under par. (d) 2. and the reporting mechanism under par. (f).

AB1029,6,12 (h) The records of the department or a contractor that constitute the family and school communications protection registry are not subject to inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1).

AB1029,6,15 (3) Prohibitions. (a) No person may send a restricted message to a contact point if the contact point has been registered with the department for more than 30 days.

AB1029,6,18 (b) No person may send a restricted message to an electronic mail address containing a registered domain name if the domain name has been registered with the department for more than 30 days.

AB1029,6,21 (c) Except as permitted in the rules promulgated by the department under sub. (2) (d), no person may obtain or provide to another information contained in the registry under sub. (2) (a).

AB1029,7,2 (4) Enforcement. (a) Civil penalties. The department may commence an action to restrain by temporary or permanent injunction any violation of this section. The department may commence an action to recover from any person who violates this section civil forfeitures in the following amounts, subject to a maximum of $100,000 per day:

AB1029,7,3 1. $1,000 for each message sent in violation of sub. (3) (a) or (b).

AB1029,7,5 2. $3,000 for each message sent in violation of sub. (3) (a) or (b), if the message is viewed by a minor.

AB1029,7,8 (b) Forfeiture. In addition to the penalties authorized under par. (a), a person who violates this section may be required to forfeit any property used to commit the violation.

AB1029,7,13 (c) Private action. 1. A parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a minor who has registered a contact point under sub. (2) (b) may commence an action for damages against a person who sends a restricted message to the contact point in violation of sub. (3) (a). Notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), a court shall award reasonable attorney fees to a plaintiff who prevails in an action under this subdivision.

AB1029,7,19 2. A parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a minor who has obtained an electronic mail address that contains a registered domain name may commence an action for damages against a person who sends a restricted message to the electronic mail address in violation of sub. (3) (b). Notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), a court shall award reasonable attorney fees to a plaintiff who prevails in an action under this subdivision.

AB1029,7,22 (d) Consent not defense. It is not a defense to an action under par. (a) that the minor to whom a registered contact point pertains has consented to receiving a restricted message.

AB1029,7,25 (e) Safe harbor. This subsection does not apply to a person who has, in good faith, used the verification procedure under sub. (2) (d) 2. within the 30 day period immediately preceding the violation.

AB1029, s. 5 Section 5. 165.25 (4) (ar) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1029,8,7 165.25 (4) (ar) The department of justice shall furnish all legal services required by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection relating to the enforcement of ss. 100.171, 100.173, 100.174, 100.175, 100.177, 100.18, 100.182, 100.20, 100.205, 100.207, 100.209, 100.21, 100.28, 100.37, 100.42, 100.50 and, 100.51, and 100.54 and chs. 126, 136, 344, 704, 707, and 779, together with any other services as are necessarily connected to the legal services.

AB1029, s. 6 Section 6. 943.70 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1029,8,15 943.70 (3m) Certain other offenses involving computers. Any person who violates s. 100.54 (3) (c) is guilty of a Class I felony. If a person violates s. 100.54 (3) (c) and, as a result, a restricted message, as defined in s. 100.54 (1) (e), is viewed by a person who is less than 18 years of age, the person is guilty of a Class G felony. This subsection does not apply to a person who has, in good faith, used the verification procedure under s. 100.54 (2) (d) 2. within the 30 day period immediately preceding the violation.

AB1029, s. 7 Section 7. 943.70 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1029,8,22 943.70 (4) Computer use restriction. In addition to the other penalties provided for violation of under this section, a judge may place restrictions on the offender's use of computers. The duration of any such restrictions may not exceed the maximum period for which the offender could have been imprisoned; except if the offense is punishable by forfeiture, the duration of the restrictions may not exceed 90 days.

AB1029, s. 8 Section 8. 943.70 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1029,9,4 943.70 (5) Injunctive relief. Any aggrieved party may sue for injunctive relief under ch. 813 to compel compliance with this section sub. (2) or (3). In addition, owners, lessors, users or manufacturers of computers, or associations or organizations representing any of those persons, may sue for injunctive relief to prevent or stop the disclosure of information which may enable another person to gain unauthorized access to data, computer programs or supporting documentation.

AB1029, s. 9 Section 9. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB1029,9,17 (1) Using the procedure under section 227.24 of the statutes, the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall promulgate emergency rules required under section 100.54 (2) (d) of the statutes, as created by this act. Notwithstanding section 227.24 (1) (c) and (2) of the statutes, emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until the first day of the 9th month after the effective date of this subsection or the effective date of the permanent rules promulgated under section 100.54 (2) (d) of the statutes, as created by this act, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding section 227.24 (1) (a) and (3) of the statutes, the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB1029, s. 10 Section 10. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the first day of the 6th month beginning after publication, except as follows:

AB1029,9,21 (1) Section 100.54 (2) (d) of the statutes, as created by this act, takes effect on the day after publication.

AB1029,9,22 (End)