95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB2512

 

Introduced 2/15/2008, by Sen. Terry Link

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27-13.3

    Amends the School Code. In a Section concerning an Internet safety education curriculum, provides that beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, a school district must incorporate into the school curriculum a component on Internet safety to be taught at least once each school year to students in grade 3 or above. Requires the State Board of Education to develop a model curriculum for educating children regarding child online safety. Requires the State Board of Education to provide to each school district educational materials for parents regarding child online safety.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning education.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
5 27-13.3 as follows:
 
6     (105 ILCS 5/27-13.3)
7     Sec. 27-13.3. Internet safety education curriculum.
8     (a) The purpose of this Section is to inform and protect
9 students from inappropriate or illegal communications and
10 solicitation and to encourage school districts to provide
11 education about Internet threats and risks, including without
12 limitation child predators, fraud, and other dangers.
13     (b) The General Assembly finds and declares the following:
14         (1) it is the policy of this State to protect consumers
15     and Illinois residents from deceptive and unsafe
16     communications that result in harassment, exploitation, or
17     physical harm;
18         (2) children have easy access to the Internet at home,
19     school, and public places;
20         (3) the Internet is used by sexual predators and other
21     criminals to make initial contact with children and other
22     vulnerable residents in Illinois; and
23         (4) education is an effective method for preventing

 

 

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1     children from falling prey to online predators, identity
2     theft, and other dangers.
3     (c) Each school may adopt an age-appropriate curriculum for
4 Internet safety instruction of students in grades kindergarten
5 through 12. However, beginning with the 2009-2010 school year,
6 a school district must incorporate into the school curriculum a
7 component on Internet safety to be taught at least once each
8 school year to students in grade 3 or above. It is hereby
9 recommended that the age-appropriate curriculum for Internet
10 safety instruction provide for a minimum of 2 hours of Internet
11 safety education each school year that includes instruction on
12 each of the following topics:
13         (1) Safe and responsible use of social networking
14     websites, chat rooms, electronic mail, bulletin boards,
15     instant messaging, and other means of communication on the
16     Internet.
17         (2) Recognizing, avoiding, and reporting online
18     solicitations of students, their classmates, and their
19     friends by sexual predators.
20         (3) Risks of transmitting personal information on the
21     Internet.
22         (4) Recognizing and avoiding unsolicited or deceptive
23     communications received online.
24         (5) Recognizing and reporting online harassment and
25     cyber-bullying.
26         (6) Reporting illegal activities and communications on

 

 

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1     the Internet.
2         (7) Copyright laws on written materials, photographs,
3     music, and video.
4     (d) Curricula devised in accordance with subsection (c) of
5 this Section may be submitted for review to the Office of the
6 Illinois Attorney General.
7     (e) The State Board of Education shall develop a model
8 curriculum for educating children regarding child online
9 safety, taking into consideration the curriculum on this
10 subject developed by other states, as well as any other
11 curricular materials suggested by education experts, child
12 psychologists, or technology companies that work on child
13 online safety issues. Curriculum topics shall include without
14 limitation safe online communications, privacy protection,
15 cyber-bullying, viewing inappropriate material, file sharing,
16 and the importance of open communication with responsible
17 adults.
18     (f) The State Board of Education shall provide to each
19 school district educational materials for parents regarding
20 child online safety.
21 (Source: P.A. 95-509, eff. 8-28-07.)