The state Senate today passed a bill sponsored by Senator Michael Balboni that increases penalties for people who promote or possess high volumes of child pornography.

"The bill will help put child porn purveyors out of business by going after them and their customers with tougher penalties," said Senator Michael Balboni. "The bill will also help protect the identity of children victimized by these sick people."

Existing law prohibits promoting or possessing materials containing a child performing sexual acts or obscene sexual acts. But the law doesn't distinguish between buying or selling multiple performances and does not prohibit altering images to look like children are engaging in sexual activity. The law also doesn't protect the identity of children who are victims of child pornography. Senator Balboni's bill would close these loopholes in the law.

"The more child pornography someone promotes or possesses, the higher the felony he or she will be charged with," Senator Balboni said.

The Balboni bill was part of a comprehensive package of child-protection legislation passed by the Senate. The other legislation includes passage of:

* "Suzanne's Law," named for Suzanne Lyall, a missing SUNY Albany student, that would increase criminal penalties for crimes on school grounds;

* A bill that increases the penalty for failure to report the sexual assault of a child;

* A bill prohibiting children under 18 from performing or dancing in adult entertainment establishments; and

* A bill that would require the suspension of pay from a tenured teacher if convicted of possessing child sexual performance materials or the sexual promotion of a child.

The bills were sent to the Assembly.