BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 120
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Children are especially vulnerable to victimization over the Internet. The Internet is a new, anonymous, effective conduit for predators to seek out children for criminal purposes such as producing and distributing child pornography, contacting and stalking children for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts, and exploiting children for sexual tourism for personal and commercial purposes.
C.S.S.B. 120 establishes a clearinghouse of educational resources related to online safety at the Texas School Safety Center. The bill also directs school districts to update their discipline management programs to prevent the use of the Internet for sexual solicitation and increases the penalty for an adult convicted of online sexual solicitation of a minor.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter G, Chapter 37, Education Code, by adding Section 37.2095, as follows:
Sec. 37.2095. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. (a) Requires the Texas School Safety Center (center), in consultation with the attorney general and the commissioner of education, to maintain on the center's Internet website a link enabling an Internet user to access free of charge information and educational materials designed to prevent the commission of the offense of online solicitation of a minor under Section 33.021 (Online Solicitation of a Minor), Penal Code, or any substantially similar offense.
(b) Requires the information and educational materials to be appropriate for use in a classroom setting in a public primary or secondary school and designed to educate minors on ways to avoid being a victim or perpetrator of online solicitation or a substantially similar offense.
(c) Authorizes the Internet link to link the user to information and educational materials prepared by the center, the attorney general, another state agency, or certain private entities that operate in the computer industry.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 37.083(a), Education Code, as follows:
(a) Requires a discipline management program adopted and implemented by a school district to provide for the prevention of the offense of online solicitation of a minor or a substantially similar offense by educating students concerning ways to avoid becoming victims or perpetrators of that offense. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 3. (a) Requires the center to post the Internet link not later than December 1, 2007.
(b) Requires each school district to modify its discipline management program as soon as possible after the posting of the center's Internet link required by Section 37.2095, Education Code, and not later than the first day of the 2008-2009 school year.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2007.