Sacramento- A bill that would criminalize posting a minor’s picture on websites containing obscene matter has moved out of the Public Safety Committee and is on its way toward approval.

AB 2104, authored by Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, [pictured] would make preparing, posting, or publishing a photograph or image without the minor’s consent punishable by imprisonment in the county jail, a fine or both. The bill now goes to the Assembly’s Appropriations Committee for consideration.

Smyth proposed the legislation in response to earlier incidents of adult men taking photos surreptitiously of teenagers at high school sporting events, in and around the southern California Area, and then posting them to websites containing pornographic material.

“I am very pleased that we have now taken the first step in stopping these predators from participating in this disturbing behavior,” said Smyth.

“I also want to applaud Assemblyman Jose Solorio (the chair of the Public Safety Committee) for his work with me on this bill. He showed leadership and the ability to put partisan politics aside and reach across the aisle in order to put the safety of our children first.”

The bill now goes to the Assembly’s Appropriations Committee for review.