Report Title:

Cyber Safety Initiative; Internet Predator Education Program; School Children; Attorney General

Description:

Creates a cyber safety pilot project in the department of the attorney general aimed to protect school children by educating students, teachers, and parents about how to avoid dangers on the Internet.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2106
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the internet.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that our increasingly wired world puts our youth at greater risk for suspicious and dangerous activity on the Internet, such as cyber harassment, sexual solicitations, and chatting with strangers online.  The rapidly growing number of learning and recreational activities on the Internet necessitates a greater role for administrators, teachers, support staff, and parents in ensuring that online predators and identity thieves do not prey on our youth.  

     In the State of Michigan alone, over one hundred fifty internet predators seeking to harm Michigan children have been arrested since 2003.  Thus, in September of 2007, Michigan's attorney general unveiled the nation's most comprehensive internet predator education program for school children.  Among other things, the Michigan cyber safety initiative provides students with age-appropriate handouts and an online safety contract to discuss with parents or guardians.  

       The purpose of this Act is to establish a three-year Hawaii cyber safety pilot program, which will combat the problem of internet predators by educating students, teachers, and parents about how to avoid online dangers.

     SECTION 2.  The department of the attorney general shall develop and administer a three-year Hawaii cyber safety initiative pilot program with customized presentations for kindergarten through eighth grade students and community seminars.  A major focus of the program shall be programming designed to protect kindergarten through third grade students. 

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 to implement the pilot program; provided that no funds appropriated in this section shall be released unless matched, dollar-for-dollar, by private funds.  Private funds may be solicited from internet service providers or other corporations supporting in cyber safety.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of the attorney general for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

INTRODUCED BY:

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