California · Labor Code

LAB §1309.5: (a) Every person who, with knowledge that a person is a minor under 18 years of age, or who, while in possession of these facts that he or she should reasonably know that the person is a minor under 1

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

Persons selling or distributing child sexual abuse material must keep records of suppliers for three years. Failure to maintain records or unauthorized disclosure by law enforcement is a misdemeanor.

Read the full statutory text
(a) Every person who, with knowledge that a person is a minor under 18 years of age, or who, while in possession of these facts that he or she should reasonably know that the person is a minor under 18 years of age, knowingly sells or distributes for resale films, photographs, slides, or magazines which depict a minor under 18 years of age engaged in sexual conduct as defined in Section 311.4 of the Penal Code, shall determine the names and addresses of persons from whom this material is obtained, and shall keep a record of these names and addresses. These records shall be kept for a period of three years after the material is obtained, and shall be kept confidential except that they shall be available to law enforcement officers as described in Section 830.1 and subdivision (h) of Section 830.3 of the Penal Code upon request. (b) Every retailer who knows or reasonably should know that films, photographs, slides, or magazines depict a minor under the age of 18 years engaged in sexual conduct as defined in Section 311.4 of the Penal Code, shall keep a record of the names and addresses of persons from whom this material is acquired. These records shall be kept for a period of three years after the material is acquired, and shall be kept confidential except that they shall be available to law enforcement officers as described in Section 830.1 and subdivision (h) of Section 830.3 of the Penal Code upon request. (c) The failure to keep and maintain the records described in subdivisions (a) and (b) for a period of three years after the obtaining or acquisition of this material is a misdemeanor. Disclosure of these records by law enforcement officers, except in the performance of their duties, is a misdemeanor.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.