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2023 SESSION

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HB 1575 Internet Safety Advisory Council; powers and duties.

Introduced by: Wendell S. Walker | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Internet Safety Advisory Council; collaboration, model instructional content, and resources. Permits the Internet Safety Advisory Council (the Council) established by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to collaborate with certain agencies and organizations with expertise in child online safety issues and human trafficking prevention and requires the Council to establish model instructional content on certain student internet safety topics and post on the Department of Education website resources and assistance programs available for any child or parent who may have encountered online solicitation by sexual predators or other illegal online communications or activities, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Public elementary and secondary schools; development of the Safety While Accessing Technology education program; annual instruction required. Directs the Board of Education, in collaboration with law-enforcement agencies, criminal justice agencies, and other nongovernmental organizations with experience in child online safety issues and human trafficking prevention, to develop an age-appropriate Safety While Accessing Technology (SWAT) education program and permits the Board to develop and provide age-appropriate instructional materials and resources to assist local school boards in establishing and implementing the SWAT education program. The bill requires that the SWAT education program include instruction on (i) safe use of social networking websites and other modes of online communication; (ii) the risks of transmitting personal information on the Internet; (iii) copyright laws on written materials, photographs, music, and videos posted or shared online; (iv) the importance of establishing open communication with responsible adults about any online communications or activities; (v) recognizing, avoiding, and reporting suspicious, potentially dangerous, or illegal online communications, including solicitation by sexual predators, unsolicited or deceptive communications, harassment, and cyberbullying; and (vi) resources and assistance programs available for any child or parent who may have encountered online solicitation by sexual predators or other illegal online communications or activities. The bill also requires each local school board to adopt policies requiring all elementary and secondary schools to provide such SWAT education program at least once each school year to students in grades three through 12 and to permit a parent to opt his child out of participating in such SWAT education program. Finally, the bill requires the Board to make the SWAT education program and any accompanying instructional materials and resources available to all local school boards before the start of the 2024–2025 school year and requires each local school board to implement such SWAT educational program beginning with the 2024–2025 school year.