BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                               C.S.S.B. 1420

80R14862 SLO-D                                                                                                     By: Wentworth

Education

                                                                                                                                            4/13/2007

                                                                                                        Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

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. 

 

C.S.S.B. 1420 requires the Texas Education Agency to develop a list of resources concerning Internet safety so that students are made aware of the dangers of the Internet.  This bill provides that the list would provide resources that specifically address 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

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

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 (TEA) 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 regarding specific dangers and consequences of certain Internet usage, the significance of copyright laws, and the consequences of cyber-plagiarism and theft of certain audiovisual works through uploading and downloading files on the Internet.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.