The Legislature passed SB 606 on Friday. The bill is now headed to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk.
Last month, actresses Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner testified in Sacramento about the danger and harassment they say their children face because of the paparazzi.
"When it comes to my children, or my child, when they are in fear of leaving the house, when they are suffering from nightmares, and feeling that they cannot move in the world in a free and safe way, that is when as a mother, I have to stand up for the rights of my children," said Berry. "There is inherent danger to paparazzi's action in regard to children."
"No child, regardless of his or her parent's occupation, should be subjected to such unwarranted and harmful persecution," said Sen. Kevin de Leon. "By increasing penalties and authorizing civil actions, SB 606 will have a significant deterrent effect on those who would consider tormenting the most vulnerable and defenseless members of our society."
If it's signed into law, de Leon's bill would change the definition of harassment to include photographing a child without the permission of a legal guardian. It would also increase fines to $10,000 and allow civil lawsuits in cases where children are harassed because of their parents' occupation. Violators would also face up to year in jail.
