ATLANTA -- The case of a teenager who broke up with his girlfriend by sending the girl, her mother and her sisters images of his private parts via cell phone is what led Rep. Cecily Hill to introduce legislation to halt "sexting."

Hill said authorities couldn't charge the ex-boyfriend with any specific crime.

"That was brought to my attention. So I'm fixing it," the Kingsland Republican said.

Her legislation introduced this week, House Bill 1334, will address the growth of sexting, the transmission of nude photos over cell phones and other text-messaging devices. It updates existing law that makes it illegal to transmit obscene photos of minors on floppy disk, compact disc or "a computer bulletin board" by adding "transmission to or from a cellular telephone."

Hill said she doesn't like trying to solve every problem with legislation but that this new activity needs to be specified as a crime in order to protect young people.

John Bankhead, the spokesman for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, said he supports Hill's efforts.

"It's something that's needed," he said.

Bankhead said legislation should be changed to exempt immature children sending pictures to other children without appreciation of the possible consequences or with no intent to engage in child pornography.

"If it's not changed, they could be put on a sex-offenders list for the rest of their life," Bankhead said. "It's a very complex issue."

The bill is awaiting consideration in the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. The committee is likely to meet only twice before the deadline for the House to pass bills that originate there. If it doesn't pass the House, the bill would have to be re-introduced next year.