BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 3171
80R14862 SLO-D By: Swinford (Wentworth)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
As students have greater opportunity to peruse information on the Internet, the opportunity for individual risk associated with that medium increases. Internet safety and copyright laws have become increasingly more important as data is transferred more efficiently through the Internet.
H.B. 3171 requires the Texas Education Agency to adopt a universal Internet safety and use curriculum so that students may be made aware of the dangers of the Internet. The guide would specifically include information regarding the danger of giving personal information to be obtained via websites, the importance of copyright laws, and the consequences of plagiarism and illegal downloading of electronic media.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, by adding Section 38.023, as follows:
Sec. 38.023. LIST OF RESOURCES CONCERNING INTERNET SAFETY. Requires the Texas Education Agency to develop and make available to school districts a list of resources concerning Internet safety, including a list of organizations and Internet websites that may assist in educating teachers and students about the potential dangers of allowing personal information to appear on an Internet website; the significance of copyright laws; and the consequences of cyber-plagiarism and theft of audiovisual works, including motion pictures, software, and sound recordings, through uploading and downloading files on the Internet.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.