Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act of 1988

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

4 February 1988

Last action

18 November 1988 · Committee

Status

See H.R.5210.

Summary

Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act of 1988 - Title I: Child Pornography - Amends the Federal criminal code to make it illegal to use a computer to transport information in interstate or foreign commerce concerning the visual depiction of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct (child pornography). Establishes criminal penalties for buying, selling, or transferring the custody of a minor: (1) knowing that, as a consequence of the sale or transfer, the minor will be used in child pornography; or (2) with the intent to promote child pornography. States that such sale or transfer must involve: (1) the minor or other actor traveling in interstate or foreign commerce; (2) communications in interstate or foreign commerce; or (3) conduct in a territory or possession of the United States. Requires any person who produces a book, magazine, periodical, film, videotape, or other matter which contains any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct (which is shipped or intended for shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, or contains material shipped in interstate or foreign commerce) to maintain certain records regarding the performers portrayed in such conduct. Directs the Attorney General to issue regulations regarding the maintenance and availability of such records. Includes the sexual exploitation of children as a predicate offense to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute. Title II: Obscenity - Makes it a Federal criminal offense to receive or possess, with the intent to distribute, obscene matter which has been transported in interstate or foreign commerce. Makes it a Federal criminal offense to knowingly use a facility or means of commerce to sell or distribute obscene matter in interstate or foreign commerce. Establishes a rebuttable presumption, with respect to Federal criminal offenses involving obscene matter, that obscene matter produced in one State (or outside the United States) which is subsequently located in another State (or in the United States) was transported, shipped, or carried in interstate (or foreign) commerce. Establishes criminal and civil forfeiture procedures with respect to Federal offenses involving obscene material and child pornography. Includes communications by means of cable or subscription television within the prohibition against broadcasting obscene language. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to modify the penalty provisions of such Act with respect to obscene telephone communications. Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criminal penalties for the possession or sale of obscene matter on Federal property. Adds obscenity offenses to the list of crimes for which the Government may obtain wiretaps.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

4 February 1988
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
4 February 1988
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
8 June 1988
Committee
Committee on Judiciary. Hearings held.
Source: Committee
14 October 1988
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
14 October 1988
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
14 October 1988
Discharge
Senate Committee on Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Discharge
14 October 1988
Committee
Senate Committee on Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Committee
18 October 1988
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
19 October 1988
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Source: IntroReferral
22 October 1988
Passed
H.R. 5210 passed in Senate relating to this measure.
Source: Floor
1 November 1988
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Source: Committee
18 November 1988
Committee
See H.R.5210.
Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

2 official files

Leesvertaling

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Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 14 October 1988
Open at official source
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 4 February 1988
Open at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Vertaal naar
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Related records

related to → Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988
related to → Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act of 1988
amends ← SAMDT 3705

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/100th-congress/senate-bill/2033
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/100/s/2033
us · 100-s-2033 · source updated 10 August 2026