ACR 66, as introduced, Waldron. Internet Crimes Against Children Awareness Month.
This measure would designate October 2013 as Internet Crimes Against Children Awareness Month and state that the Legislature supports increased funding for the Internet Crimes Against Children task forces, online communications systems, or computer technology to help detect the sexual exploitation of children, updating reporting laws, and strengthening disclosure laws.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, Computers and the Internet have become prevalent
2in California homes, schools, and libraries; and
3WHEREAS, In 2010, 85 percent of children 3 to 17 years of
4age had access to a computer at home, and almost 57 percent used
5the Internet at home; and
6WHEREAS, Children and adolescents commonly use computers
7for playing games, completing school assignments, word
8processing, e-mail, and connecting to the Internet; and
P2 1WHEREAS, Education is the single most common motivation
2parents cite for their children to use the Internet from home; and
3WHEREAS, While the Internet has helped to make education,
4entertainment, and socialization more accessible for youth, it has
5also made child victimization easier for predators; and
6WHEREAS, Physical contact between the child and the
7perpetrator does not need to occur for a child to become a victim
8or for a crime to be committed; and
9WHEREAS, Many victims of Internet crimes do not disclose
10their victimization or even realize that they have been victims of
11a crime; and
12WHEREAS, Predators contact children over the Internet and
13victimize them by enticing them through online contact for the
14purpose of engaging them in sexual acts, using the Internet for the
15production, manufacture, and distribution of child pornography,
16using the Internet to expose youth to child pornography and
17encourage them to exchange pornography, and enticing and
18exploiting children for the purpose of sexual tourism (travel with
19the intent to engage in sexual behavior) for commercial gain or
20personal gratification; and
21WHEREAS, Pornography is often used in the sexual
22victimization of children. About 25 percent of children have been
23exposed to unwanted pornographic material online; and
24WHEREAS, One in seven children have received a sexual
25solicitation online; and
26WHEREAS, In the 2009 fiscal year, task forces participating
27in the federal Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force
28Program reported nearly 28,000 complaints, including child
29pornography, enticement or obscenity directed to minors, and child
30prostitution. These complaints resulted in more than 13,000
31investigations; and
32WHEREAS, Parents, school officials, law enforcement officers,
33and other adults can prevent Internet crimes against children by
34taking various measures, including keeping computers in open
35areas, monitoring the amount of time a child spends online, and
36educating children about the dangers of Internet crimes; now,
37therefore, be it
38Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
39thereof concurring, That the Legislature designates October 2013
40as Internet Crimes Against Children Awareness Month to educate
P3 1parents, children, and the general public about the critical issue of
2Internet crimes against children statewide in order to protect
3children against unspeakable crimes; and be it further
4Resolved, That the Legislature supports increased funding for
5ICAC task forces, online communications systems, or computer
6technology to help detect the sexual exploitation of children,
7updating reporting laws, and strengthening disclosure laws; and
8be it further
9Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
10of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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