BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1420
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
As students have greater opportunity to peruse the Internet, the opportunity for individual risk associated with that medium increases. Internet safety and copyright laws have become increasingly important as data are transferred more efficiently through the Internet.
As proposed, S.B. 1420 requires the Texas Education Agency to adopt a universal Internet safety and use curriculum so that students are made aware of the dangers of the Internet. This bill provides that the guide would specifically include information regarding the danger of allowing personal information to appear on a website, 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 28, Education Code, by adding Section 28.010, as follows:
Sec. 28.010. INTERNET SAFETY AND USE CURRICULUM. Requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to develop and make available to school districts an Internet safety and use curriculum that a district may use to educate students regarding specific dangers and consequences of certain Internet usage, the significance of copyright laws, and the consequences of cyberplagiarism and theft of certain audiovisual works through uploading and downloading files on the Internet.
SECTION 2. Requires TEA to develop and make available to school districts an Internet safety and use curriculum as required by Section 28.010, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2008.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.