STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7051--A
Cal. No. 1031
IN SENATE
March 5, 2008
___________
Introduced by Sens. SALAND, ALESI, BONACIC, DeFRANCISCO, FARLEY, FLANA-
GAN, FUSCHILLO, GOLDEN, GRIFFO, O. JOHNSON, LANZA, LARKIN, LAVALLE,
LEIBELL, LITTLE, MALTESE, MAZIARZ, MORAHAN, NOZZOLIO, PADAVAN, RATH,
ROBACH, SEWARD, TRUNZO, VOLKER, YOUNG -- read twice and ordered print-
ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education --
reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second
report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted,
retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to instruction in safe
and responsible use of the internet
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature finds that
2 today's children have grown up in the age of the internet and most
3 consider it a valuable conduit for high-speed learning, research,
4 socialization, communication, recreation and global outreach. However,
5 the internet has also become a hunting ground for predators.
6 The legislature finds that the U.S. Department of Justice reported in
7 2006 that one in five children, ages ten to seventeen, received an
8 unwanted sexual solicitation online, but only 25% of children who have
9 been solicited told a parent according to the National Center for Miss-
10 ing and Exploited Children. In addition, increasing numbers of children
11 are subjected to intimidation, harassment and bullying via the computer,
12 websites, chat rooms, text messaging and cell phones. From a 2004
13 survey, I-SAFE, a non-profit youth internet safety foundation, reports
14 that 42% of kids have been bullied while online and 1 in 4 have had it
15 happen more than once.
16 The legislature further finds that students do not report these
17 contacts because they do not recognize the tactics used by predators
18 under the cloak of electronic anonymity to lure, victimize and abuse
19 their victims. Those who are bullied can also be reluctant to report
20 attacks for fear of losing access to the internet or because they are
21 not prepared to deal with virtual-life challenges.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15049-05-8
S. 7051--A 2
1 The intent of this legislation is to raise awareness of the need for
2 vigilance and to ensure that students and parents have comprehensive,
3 age appropriate internet safety resources throughout their school tenure
4 that will enable students to maximize the internet's potential while
5 protecting them from sexual predators and others with malicious
6 intentions.
7 § 2. Section 814 of the education law is amended by adding a new
8 subdivision 3 to read as follows:
9 3. The commissioner shall develop age-appropriate resources and tech-
10 nical assistance for schools to provide to students in grades three
11 through twelve and their parents or legal guardians concerning the safe
12 and responsible use of the internet. The resources shall include, but
13 not be limited to, information regarding how child predators may use the
14 internet to lure and exploit children, protecting personal information,
15 internet scams and cyber-bullying.
16 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the commis-
17 sioner of education shall develop the technical resources required by
18 section two of this act within 180 days of such effective date.
