SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Starting in January 2010, the unauthorized retransmission of naked images by cell phone will become a crime in Illinois.

On Thursday, the state Senate passed a bill that would make passing along any erotic image without the permission of the image’s subject a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.

According to the bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Kimberly Lightford [D-Maywood], the law is an attempt to put an end to intimidation and harassment, particularly of youngsters, by the threat compromising photos may become public. Too many young people find themselves unwilling porn stars, Lightford noted, when images they send for one person’s eyes only end up on the Web or passed around among groups of friends.

The bill still requires House approval, but it is expected to pass without discussion. The House approved a previous version of the bill, but because the Senate “tightened up the language” before approval, the House must vote again.