House of Representatives

HB 2006

state employees; internet; content filters

Sponsors: McGrath, McGibbon, Cooley, Groscost

DPA	Committee on Government Reform
X	Caucus and COW
	As Passed the House

HB 2006 requires government entities that provide access to computer terminals to equip and maintain programs on the computers that blocks access to sexually graphic material.

History

In 1999, the Legislature passed HB 2409, Chapter 73 which requires pubic schools and public libraries to prevent minors from gaining access on the Internet to materials that are considered harmful to minors. Specifically, the bill requires public schools that provide public access to computers to install computer software that would prevent minors from gaining access to material that is harmful to minors or to purchase Internet connectivity from an Internet service provider that limits access to material that is harmful to minors. Additionally, the bill requires public libraries to do one or both of the following: 1) equip computers with software or purchase Internet connectivity from an Internet service provider, that will limit minors’ ability to access material that is harmful to minors; or 2) develop and implement a policy to restrict minors from gaining access to material that is harmful to minors.

Provisions

· Provides that government entities must provide filter programs on computers (with Internet access) owned or leased by them that blocks access to sexually graphic material.

· Exempts research activities authorized in writing by a government employee’s supervisor from the provisions of this bill.

· Defines sexually graphic material.

HB 2006 was amended in the Government Reform Committee as follows:

· Allows government entities to purchase Internet connectivity that filters sexually explicit material.

· Requires the Government Information Technology Agency (GITA) to establish rules for the enforcement of the statute for state government entities.

· Requires local governing boards to establish rules for the enforcement of the statute for local government entities.

· Stipulates that a state or local government entity that complies with this statute can not be held liable or criminally liable for any damages that might arise from a person gaining access to sexually explicit material through the use of their computers.

· Changes “sexually graphic material” to “sexually explicit material” in the bill and the amendment.

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· 44th Legislature Analyst Initials _______

· Second Regular Session January 21, 2000

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