AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Texas lawmakers could soon be focusing on teen sexting laws.
Some think the punishment doesn't fit the crime, so their bill would make some changes.
Under the bill that's been introduced, a teen who has sexted must make a court appearance and complete an education program about the consequences of that action.
But Randall County District Attorney James Farren thinks that we already have one too many laws.
"I think we depend on laws and rules and government to handle our every day lives, perhaps it could be more effective if we could get parents more involved and keeping up with what their kids are doing."
In the bill, the charge for first time offenders gets reduced to a Class-C misdemeanor.
And that education program? A parent would have to attend classes with the child.
But State Senator Kel Seliger thinks that stipulation poses problems.
"What if it is a single parent family a parents works two jobs and things like that, that have time constraints and things like that, so while the principle is a good one there is still a ways to go."
But the problem of sexting itself, where do these two men think it starts, and how can we solve it?
"There's a lot of parents who don't look at their kids cell phones and look at what they're sending and what they're not sending or what's in the archive," said Seliger.
"I think what will solve this problem is if we all are more aware of what our kids are doing both on the internet and on the phone, cell phone, what they're watching at the movies and what they're watching on television," said Farren.
If Texas lawmakers pass this sexting bill, the law could take effect in September.
Attorney General Abbott says this bill will have no effect on the budget, and he hopes it passes unanimously.
