97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB1466

 

Introduced , by Rep. Emily McAsey

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27-13.3

    Amends the School Code with respect to the Internet safety education curriculum. Makes changes concerning legislative findings and declarations. Provides that beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, a school district must include in the age-appropriate curriculum topics regarding the appropriate use of electronic communication devices, including, but not limited to, the risks and consequences of dissemination and transmission of sexually explicit images and video. Provides that State Board of Education resource materials may include the dissemination and transmission of images and video. Effective July 1, 2011.


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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,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
527-13.3 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
9students from inappropriate or illegal communications and
10solicitation and to encourage school districts to provide
11education about Internet threats and risks, including without
12limitation 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, through electronic communication devices, and
20    public places;
21        (3) the Internet is used by sexual predators and other
22    criminals to make initial contact with children and other
23    vulnerable residents in Illinois; and

 

 

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1        (3.5) the Internet and electronic communication
2    devices can be used to harass or exploit minors through
3    transmitted images or text messages; and
4        (4) education is an effective method for preventing
5    children from falling prey to online predators, identity
6    theft, harassment and exploitation by peers, and other
7    dangers.
8    (c) Each school may adopt an age-appropriate curriculum for
9Internet safety instruction of students in grades kindergarten
10through 12. However, beginning with the 2009-2010 school year,
11a school district must incorporate into the school curriculum a
12component on Internet safety to be taught at least once each
13school year to students in grades 3 through 12. The school
14board shall determine the scope and duration of this unit of
15instruction. Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, a school
16district must include in the age-appropriate curriculum topics
17regarding the appropriate use of electronic communication
18devices, including, but not limited to, the risks and
19consequences of dissemination and transmission of sexually
20explicit images and video. The age-appropriate unit of
21instruction may be incorporated into the current courses of
22study regularly taught in the district's schools, as determined
23by the school board, and it is recommended that the unit of
24instruction include the following topics:
25        (1) Safe and responsible use of social networking
26    websites, chat rooms, electronic mail, bulletin boards,

 

 

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1    instant messaging, and other means of communication on the
2    Internet.
3        (2) Recognizing, avoiding, and reporting online
4    solicitations of students, their classmates, and their
5    friends by sexual predators.
6        (3) Risks of transmitting personal information on the
7    Internet.
8        (4) Recognizing and avoiding unsolicited or deceptive
9    communications received online.
10        (5) Recognizing and reporting online harassment and
11    cyber-bullying.
12        (6) Reporting illegal activities and communications on
13    the Internet.
14        (7) Copyright laws on written materials, photographs,
15    music, and video.
16    (d) Curricula devised in accordance with subsection (c) of
17this Section may be submitted for review to the Office of the
18Illinois Attorney General.
19    (e) The State Board of Education shall make available
20resource materials for educating children regarding child
21online safety and may take into consideration the curriculum on
22this subject developed by other states, as well as any other
23curricular materials suggested by education experts, child
24psychologists, or technology companies that work on child
25online safety issues. Materials may include without limitation
26safe online communications, privacy protection,

 

 

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1cyber-bullying, viewing inappropriate material, file sharing,
2the dissemination and transmission of images and video, and the
3importance of open communication with responsible adults. The
4State Board of Education shall make these resource materials
5available on its Internet website.
6(Source: P.A. 95-509, eff. 8-28-07; 95-869, eff. 1-1-09;
796-734, eff. 8-25-09.)
 
8    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
92011.