Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB18 by Slawson (relating to the protection of minors from harmful, deceptive, or unfair trade practices in connection with the use of certain digital services and electronic devices, including the use and transfer of electronic devices to students by a public school.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require digital service providers to register the age of all users. The bill establishes rules for digital service providers regarding their duties relating to known minors, including the duty to prevent harm, create parental tools, and prevent certain targeted advertising.
The bill would entitle verified parents of known minors using digital services to supervise and manage their minor's use of, and personal identifying information collected by, the digital service provider.
A violation of the chapter would be a deceptive trade practice under Subchapter E, Chapter 17, of the Business and Commerce Code.
Article 3 of the bill would create rules regarding the standards for electronic devices and software applications used by school districts.
Article 4 of the bill would direct a joint committee of the Legislature to conduct a study on the effects of media on minors.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 313 Department of Information Resources, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 701 Texas Education Agency