CONCORD - Calling it an important next step in the state’s ongoing efforts to better protect children from sexual predators, Gov. John Lynch today signed the Online Child Safety Act.

Gov. Lynch worked with the Attorney General, the state’s law enforcement community and a bipartisan coalition of legislators to develop the Act, and made its passage a priority.

“We want to send a very clear message to those who might be tempted to lure our young people over the Internet: Stay out of New Hampshire. The Online Child Safety Act modernizes our laws to help protect children from the threats of the 21st century,” Gov. Lynch said. “While the Internet holds tremendous opportunity for New Hampshire’s children, it also has the potential to be a dangerous place for kids, and this law will help protect them.”

The act modernizes the state’s laws to better protect children from sexual predators who use the Internet. It also builds on the Child Protection Act passed in 2006, which is one of the country’s toughest laws to protect children from sexual predators.

The new law strengthens the penalties in existing law for enticing a child over the Internet, and provides enhanced penalties for repeat offenders; it overhauls and expands existing child pornography laws to better reflect the victimization that occurs everyday when images of sexually abused children are created and distributed; and it closes a loophole so that sex offenders using web cams can be held accountable.

“While the state is taking action to better protect children, parents still have the prime responsibility for watching out for their children. By monitoring their children’s online activities, parents can help prevent exposure to sexually explicit material and unwanted solicitation from adults,” Gov. Lynch said. “This new law will allow the State of New Hampshire, and parents, to better protect our most precious resource - our children.”

Senate Bill 495 is sponsored by Sens. Joe Foster, Bob Letourneau and Betsi DeVries; Reps. David Welch and William Knowles.