SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1898        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1669

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act prohibiting the release of a minor's personal information by the media..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 214 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 3B the following section:-

Section 3C. (a)  For purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:-

“Minor”, a person under 18 years of age who is not a subject of legitimate public concern or interest.

“Personal information”, the name, address or electronic mail address of a minor as defined in this section.

(b) No television station, radio station, internet website, or other electronic broadcast media outlet shall broadcast and no newspaper or magazine sold or distributed to the general public shall publish the personal information of any minor whose image appears in any broadcast or photograph without the express written consent of a parent or legal guardian of the minor.

(c)  A parent or legal guardian of any minor whose personal information is broadcast or published in violation of this section may bring a civil action in the superior court on behalf of the minor and against the person or entity so using his personal information to prevent and restrain the use thereof and may recover damages for any injuries sustained because of the use of the personal information.