The Senate Budget Committee swiftly approved a bill on Friday to decriminalize "sexting" as a first offense for children.
It's on its way to the Senate floor. A similar measure is already on the House floor.
The bill is meant to address cases such as Phillip Alpert's. In 2007, the Orlando teen sent nude photos of his girlfriend to friends and was charged with 72 offenses. He ultimately was sentenced to five years probation and required to register as a sex offender.
It defines sexting as a minor sending sexually explicit photos or videos to a another minor via a computer, cellphone or similar devise.
A staff analysis of the bill quoted a 2008 study of 1,280 children and young adults showing that 20 percent of teens had used computers or phones to send nude or semi-nude photos of themselves.
In the Senate bill a first sexting violation would be punishable by a $60 fine or eight hours of community service.
A second violation would be a first-degree misdemeanor, which could bring up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Children could still be prosecuted for other related offenses, such as stalking.
A similar measure passed in the Senate last year but stalled in the House.
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