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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 4, 2018 02:41 PM |
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| From: | Representative Russ Diamond |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Internet-Free Alternative Instruction |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to add a section to the Public School Code of 1949 to allow a parent or guardian to excuse their child from instruction which uses technology with Internet access. In 2004, the General Assembly passed Act 197 (Child Internet Protection Act) to require, among other provisions, governing boards of school entities to use software programs and online servers designed to block access to visual depictions of obscenity, child pornography, and material that is harmful to minors. Despite the provisions of Act 197, I continue to receive numerous complaints from constituents whose children are still able to access inappropriate material using internet-connected school technology and/or social media. Our public education system should not serve as a conduit for materials that run counter to any parent’s obligation or desire to protect their children from harm. Under my legislation, if a child’s parent or guardian chooses to excuse the child from instruction which uses technology with Internet access, the school entity must provide the child alternative instruction that does not require the child to use technology with Internet access. School entities would include public school districts, intermediate units, area vocational-technical schools, regional charter schools, and charter schools, but not cyber charter schools. I urge you to join me in further protecting children and supporting parental values by co-sponsoring this legislation. |
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| View Attachment | ||
Introduced as HB958