BILL ANALYSIS
AB 88
Page 1
Date of Hearing: March 28, 2007
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Gene Mullin, Chair
AB 88 (Lieu) - As Amended: March 22, 2007
SUBJECT : Internet safety resources
SUMMARY : Requires the State Department of Education (SDE) to
develop, maintain and distribute a comprehensive list of
Internet safety resources for use by local educational agencies.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires the list of resources to include, but not be limited
to, maintaining safe and responsible navigation and
communication on social networking sites, keeping personal
information private, recognizing and reporting solicitations
by sexual predators online, recognizing and avoiding
unsolicited or deceptive communications, and using and
operating spyware countermeasures.
2)Requires SDE to distribute and make available on their website
the list of Internet safety resources to local educational
agencies.
3)Allows a local educational agency to incorporate the
guidelines into the existing curricula of the agency.
4)Requires the SDE to consult with regional and national experts
and advocates on emerging Internet safety concerns and
educational solutions.
EXISTING LAW
1)Requires, as part of the California Technology Assistance
Project, the Superintendent of public instruction to develop
guidelines and criteria for inclusion in the education
technology plan and requires the criteria to include a
component to educate pupils and teachers on Internet safety.
2)Requires a schoolsite council to write and develop a
comprehensive school safety plan relevant to the needs and
resources of that particular school.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
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COMMENTS : Media reports have publicized the dangers children
are exposed to through the use of online services and the
Internet. A national study, funded by the US Congress through a
grant to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
(NCMEC), confirms that large numbers of young people who use the
Internet are encountering unwanted sexual solicitations, sexual
material they do not seek, and people who threaten and harass
them in various ways.
In October of 2006 the Department of Consumer Affairs and the
California Coalition for Children's Internet Safety sponsored
the 2006 Cyber Safety Summit, which provided information about
the dangers children face online and the strategies and
resources available to counter them.
There are several organizations that have developed Internet
safety resources, software and other materials. For example,
WiredSafety, in partnership with Microsoft, developed a series
of Internet safety comics; the Children's Educational Network
developed Internet safety software; the Child Safety Research
and Innovation Center developed computer games to teach children
how to identify and respond to online dangers; and Web Wise Kids
has similar games for teenagers and adults.
The author states, "The Internet is a great resource for
research and information, but many students encounter
unsolicited explicit content. With Internet use among our
youth, it is critical that steps be taken to teach students safe
practices while online."
Prior legislation : SB 1740 (Murray) of 2006 required the SDE to
develop and maintain an Internet safety curriculum to be
distributed to school districts. The bill was vetoed. The
message read, in pertinent part:
This bill circumvents the role of the State Board of
Education (SBE) by giving the authority for the development
and dissemination of curriculum to the California
Department of Education without the approval of the SBE.
The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) has already
convened the California Coalition for Children's Internet
Safety (CCCIS) and will host the first statewide Cyber
Safety Summit in October. The Summit is intended to
target, among others, parents/PTA organizations, educators,
AB 88
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community leaders, and child safety advocates. Prior to
developing any state wide guidelines, we should first take
the information presented at the Summit and review
recommendations from the CCCIS to ensure that any approach
to Internet safety is comprehensive and addresses the
individual needs of local education agencies. I believe
this is a proactive, direct approach to address Internet
safety.
AB 307 (Chavez), Chapter 313, Statutes of 2006 requires the
Superintendent of Public Instruction, by July 1, 2007, to
develop guidelines for information regarding the safe use of the
Internet that should be included in a school district's
education technology plan.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees,
AFL- CIO
California Family Council
California Organization of Police and Sheriffs
Microsoft Corporation
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Marisol Avi?a / ED. / (916) 319-2087