Michigan Laws 722.680 – Advisory opinion as to legality of disseminating sexually explicit matter to minor; action for declaratory judgment; prosecuting attorney as defendant; counterclaim for injunctive relief; dismissal of
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(1) A person intending to disseminate to a minor matter that may be considered sexually explicit may request, from the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the dissemination is intended, an advisory opinion as to the legality of that dissemination. The request for an advisory opinion shall be in writing and shall be accompanied by a reasonable and timely opportunity for the prosecuting attorney to examine the matter. Not more than 5 business days after receipt of a proper request, the prosecuting attorney shall issue to the person making the request an advisory opinion, or a refusal to issue an advisory opinion, in writing. The advisory opinion shall state in unequivocal terms whether knowing dissemination of the matter to a minor would be considered by the prosecuting attorney to violate section 5.
(2) A person who has requested an advisory opinion may commence an action for a declaratory judgment in the circuit court in the same county to obtain an adjudication of the legality of the intended dissemination if either of the following conditions exist:
Terms Used In Michigan Laws 722.680
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Disseminate: means to sell, lend, give, exhibit, show, or allow to examine or to offer or agree to do the same. See Michigan Laws 722.671
- in writing: shall be construed to include printing, engraving, and lithographing; except that if the written signature of a person is required by law, the signature shall be the proper handwriting of the person or, if the person is unable to write, the person's proper mark, which may be, unless otherwise expressly prohibited by law, a clear and classifiable fingerprint of the person made with ink or another substance. See Michigan Laws 8.3q
- Minor: means a person less than 18 years of age. See Michigan Laws 722.671
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, as well as to individuals. See Michigan Laws 8.3l
- state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
(a) The action is commenced more than 5 business days after submission of a proper request, and the prosecuting attorney has failed to issue an advisory opinion.
(b) The prosecuting attorney has issued an advisory opinion and that opinion fails to state in unequivocal terms that knowing dissemination of the matter to a minor would not be considered by the prosecuting attorney to violate section 5.
(3) The prosecuting attorney shall be made the defendant to an action commenced pursuant to subsection (2). In responding to the complaint, the prosecuting attorney may join a counterclaim for the injunctive relief permitted under section 9.
(4) If the prosecuting attorney, after commencement of the action, issues an advisory opinion stating in unequivocal terms that knowing dissemination of the matter to a minor would not be considered by the prosecuting attorney to violate section 5, the action shall be dismissed.