Montana Senate passes bills to put electronics in privacy

HELENA — The Montana Senate has approved two bills that update peeping Tom and indecent exposure laws to prohibit committing those crimes through electronic means.

Senate Bill 50, which is sponsored by Republican Jennifer Fielder, passed 47-0. It would make it illegal to secretly watch or record another person either in person or by means of a hidden electronic device.

Senate Bill 60, which is sponsored by Democrat Robyn Driscoll, passed 46-1. It would update the indecent exposure law to prohibit people from exposing genitals "by any means, including electronic communication".

The bill also adds a section specifically incriminating indecent exposure to a minor. That includes showing genitals to a person younger than 16 if the offender is more than three years older than the victim.

Both bills move to the House.