SB66

This bill, the 'Protection of Minors from Distribution of Harmful Material Act,' mandates that commercial websites containing a 'substantial portion' (defined as more than 33.33%) of material deemed harmful to minors implement rigorous age verification protocols. Commercial entities must use methods such as digitized identification cards, government-issued IDs, or other commercially reasonable verification methods meeting Identity Assurance Level 2 standards. The bill establishes civil liability for entities that fail to perform these checks, allowing individuals to sue for damages, attorney's fees, and court costs if a minor accesses harmful material. Furthermore, it prohibits commercial entities from retaining personal identifying information after access is granted. The bill includes exemptions for news-gathering organizations, internet service providers, search engines, and cloud service providers. Its stated legislative intent is to protect minors from the potential negative developmental and psychological impacts associated with exposure to pornography.