By: Nelson, Shapiro S.B. No. 136

(In the Senate - Filed December 5, 2006; January 29, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Education; March 12, 2007, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; March 12, 2007, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 136 By: Van de Putte

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a community education program concerning Internet safety.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 37, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 37.217 to read as follows:

Sec. 37.217. COMMUNITY EDUCATION RELATING TO INTERNET SAFETY. (a) The center, in cooperation with the attorney general, shall develop a program that provides instruction concerning Internet safety, including instruction relating to:

(1) the potential dangers of allowing personal information to appear on an Internet website;

(2) the manner in which to report an inappropriate online solicitation; and

(3) the prevention, detection, and reporting of bullying or threats occurring over the Internet.

(b) In developing the program, the center shall:

(1) solicit input from interested stakeholders; and

(2) to the extent practicable, draw from existing resources and programs.

(c) The center shall make the program available to public schools.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the Texas School Safety Center shall develop a program that provides instruction concerning Internet safety as required by Section 37.217, Education Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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