2016 -- H 7583 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC004063/SUB A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Amore, O'Brien, McKiernan, and Carnevale

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2016

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

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by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 21.6

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INTERNET FILTERING IN SCHOOLS

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     16-21.6-1. Internet filtering. -- (a) "Internet filtering measures" means the use of a

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specific technology or program to block or filter access to websites on the internet.

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     (b) Each school district shall adopt the model written policy developed by the department

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of education pursuant to subsection (e) of this section addressing the use of internet filtering

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measures for computer access in its schools. Any such policy shall:

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     (1) Include the specific categories of websites that are blocked by the internet filtering

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measures in use; the basis for including those categories; and the individuals who are responsible

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for making those decisions;

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     (2) Establish a procedure for teachers to request that a blocked website be unblocked in a

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timely manner; and

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     (3) Specify the criteria used for overruling a request to allow access to a website that is

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blocked by the internet filtering measures, and require that the teacher making such a request be

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provided particular reasons any time a request is denied.

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     (c) Each school district shall maintain a public record of any requests to allow access to a

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website that is blocked by the internet filtering measures and the response provided, and submit

 

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an annual report to the school committee on the number of requests granted and denied to

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unblock a website.

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     (d) Each school district shall annually review the requests made in the preceding year

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pursuant to subsection (b)(2) of this section for unblocking websites in order to determine

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whether the categories and standards contained in the policy adopted pursuant to subsection

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(b)(1) of this section shall be revised.

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     (e) The Rhode Island department of education shall develop a written model internet

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filtering policy for use by school districts, state schools, charter schools, and mayoral academies.

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The model plan shall include, but not be limited to, the provisions contained in subsections (b)(1)

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(b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section, and to the extent consistent with federal law, promote academic

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freedom in the classroom, and shall be communicated to all school districts in the state for their

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use and posted on the department website.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

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     This act would mandate that each school district adopt the model written policy

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developed by the department of education that addresses the use of internet filtering measures for

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computer access in schools. The Rhode Island department of education would be required to

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develop and post this model written policy for use by all school districts including state schools,

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charter schools and mayoral academies consistent with federal law contained on the department's

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website.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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