NY Lawmakers Propose Teen 'Sexting' Law

The program, proposed by Assembly Democrats, is intended to give prosecutors and judges a more lenient option for dealing with teenagers accused of "sexting," using their cellphones, email or social-networking sites to distribute naked and sexually explicit pictures of themselves or classmates.

Lawmakers introduced what they call the "Cyber Crime Youth Rescue Act" on Friday. Gov. Andrew Cuomo hasn't taken a position on the bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Nick Perry of Brooklyn. The measure hasn't been introduced in the Republican-led Senate.

More than a dozen other statehouses have introduced or passed statutes giving prosecutors more leeway in handling "sexting" cases and distinguishing such offenses from child pornography and sexual-predator crimes that come with more serious and lasting punishments.

A similar measure passed the New Jersey Assembly this year.