SB1472 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 11008 RAS 31318 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB1472

Introduced 2/9/2007, by Sen. Dan Kotowski

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.675 new
105 ILCS 5/27-13.3 new

Creates the Internet Safety Education Act to inform and protect students from inappropriate or illegal communications and solicitation and to require school districts to provide education about Internet threats and risks. Creates the Internet Safety Education Alliance under the authority of the Office of the Attorney General. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Internet Safety Education Fund. Amends the School Code to mandate the provision by every public school of instruction and discussion on effective methods by which students may recognize and report inappropriate, illegal, or threatening communications on the Internet on or before the start of the 2008-2009 school year.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Internet Safety Education Act.

Section 5. Purpose; findings.

(a) The purpose of this Act is to inform and protect students from inappropriate or illegal communications and solicitation and to require school districts to provide education about Internet threats and risks, including without limitation child predators, fraud, and other dangers.

(b) The General Assembly finds and declares all of the following:

(1) It is the policy of this State to protect consumers and Illinois residents from deceptive and unsafe communications that result in harassment, exploitation, or physical harm.

(2) Children have easy access to the Internet at home, school, and public places.

(3) A 2005 report by the PEW Internet and American Life Project concluded that 87% of children between the ages of 12 and 17 are online. Moreover, in 2006, 55% of those youths reported use of online social networking websites.

(4) A 2006 United States Department of Justice survey by the Crimes Against Children Research Center revealed that approximately 34% of youth ages 10 to 17 used the Internet to chat, email, or instant message with people they had never met personally. In their survey, 13% received a sexual solicitation or approach on the Internet within the preceding year. In addition, 9% reported they had been threatened, harassed, or humiliated online.

(5) The Internet is used by sexual predators and other criminals to make initial contact with children and other vulnerable residents in Illinois.

(6) Education is an effective method for preventing children from falling prey to online predators and other dangers.

Section 10. Internet Safety Education Alliance.

(a) There is hereby established under the authority of the Office of the Attorney General the Internet Safety Education Alliance, which shall consist of 9 members, one of whom shall be appointed by the Attorney General and shall represent the Office of the Attorney General; one of whom shall be appointed by the Attorney General and shall represent the High Tech Crimes Bureau of the Office of the Attorney General; one of whom shall be appointed by the Attorney General and represent the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force; 2 of whom shall be appointed by the State Superintendent of Education and represent the State Board of Education; one of whom shall be appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools and represent the Chicago public school system; one of whom shall be a representative of the Illinois Federation of Teachers appointed by the Governor; one of whom shall be a representative of the Illinois Education Association appointed by the Governor; and one of whom shall be a representative of the Illinois Principals Association appointed by the Governor.

(b) The Internet Safety Education Alliance shall have all of the following powers and duties:

(1) To examine and certify or to refuse to certify Internet safety curricula, in accordance with the minimum education requirements established under Section 27-13.3 of the School Code.

(2) To seek consultation from regional and national experts and advocates on emerging Internet safety concerns and educational solutions.

(3) To recommend additional topics for Internet safety instruction under Section 27-13.3 of the School Code.

(4) To provide training for local law enforcement and educators on effective preparation of youth for existing and emerging Internet threats.

(b) Alliance members shall serve 2-year terms and may be reappointed for an unlimited number of terms.

(c) All members of the Alliance shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(d) The Alliance shall annually select a chairperson and establish rules and procedures for its proceedings not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act.

Section 15. Internet Safety Education Fund. There is hereby created the Internet Safety Education Fund as a special fund in the State treasury into which funds received from private, State, or federal sources specifically for Internet safety education may be deposited and from which funds shall be appropriated to the Internet Safety Education Alliance for use by the Alliance for Internet safety education.

Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.675 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.675 new)

Sec. 5.675. The Internet Safety Education Fund.

Section 95. The School Code is amended by adding Section 27-13.3 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/27-13.3 new)

Sec. 27-13.3. Internet safety education requirement.

(a) Every public school shall provide instruction and discussion on effective methods by which students may recognize and report inappropriate, illegal, or threatening communications on the Internet.

(b) Each public school shall adopt a curriculum for Internet safety instruction of students in grades kindergarten through 12. The curriculum must be age appropriate and provide for a minimum of 2.5 hours of instruction on each of the following subjects:

(1) Safe and responsible navigation and communication on social networking websites, chat rooms, electronic mail, bulletin boards, instant messenger, and other means of communication on the Internet.

(2) Recognizing and reporting solicitations by sexual predators online.

(3) Dangers of transmitting personal information on the Internet.

(4) Recognizing and avoiding unsolicited or deceptive communications received online.

(5) Recognizing and reporting cyber-bullying.

(c) Curricula devised in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section must be submitted for certification by the Internet Safety Education Alliance. Submitted curricula must receive certification by the Alliance for proper compliance with this Section.

(d) Each school district and its schools must comply with the requirements of this Section on or before the start of the 2008-2009 school year.