103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB1522

 

Introduced 1/31/2023, by Rep. Daniel Didech

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27-13.3

    Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning an Internet safety education curriculum, provides that, beginning January 1, 2024 and at least once every 3 years thereafter, the State Board of Education shall review and submit a report to the General Assembly of recommended revisions to the Internet safety education curriculum provisions to ensure the Internet safety education curriculum aligns with current best practices and reflects current technology and customary uses of the Internet.


LRB103 05346 RJT 50365 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1522LRB103 05346 RJT 50365 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
527-13.3 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/27-13.3)
7    Sec. 27-13.3. Internet safety education curriculum.
8    (a) The purpose of this Section is to inform and protect
9students from inappropriate or illegal communications and
10solicitation and to encourage school districts to provide
11education about Internet threats and risks, including without
12limitation child predators, fraud, and other dangers.
13    (b) The General Assembly finds and declares the following:
14        (1) it is the policy of this State to protect
15    consumers and Illinois residents from deceptive and unsafe
16    communications that result in harassment, exploitation, or
17    physical harm;
18        (2) children have easy access to the Internet at home,
19    school, and public places;
20        (3) the Internet is used by sexual predators and other
21    criminals to make initial contact with children and other
22    vulnerable residents in Illinois; and
23        (4) education is an effective method for preventing

 

 

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1    children from falling prey to online predators, identity
2    theft, and other dangers.
3    (c) Each school may adopt an age-appropriate curriculum
4for Internet safety instruction of students in grades
5kindergarten through 12. However, beginning with the 2009-2010
6school year, a school district must incorporate into the
7school curriculum a component on Internet safety to be taught
8at least once each school year to students in grades 3 through
912. The school board shall determine the scope and duration of
10this unit of instruction. The age-appropriate unit of
11instruction may be incorporated into the current courses of
12study regularly taught in the district's schools, as
13determined by the school board, and it is recommended that the
14unit of instruction include the following topics:
15        (1) Safe and responsible use of social networking
16    websites, chat rooms, electronic mail, bulletin boards,
17    instant messaging, and other means of communication on the
18    Internet.
19        (2) Recognizing, avoiding, and reporting online
20    solicitations of students, their classmates, and their
21    friends by sexual predators.
22        (3) Risks of transmitting personal information on the
23    Internet.
24        (4) Recognizing and avoiding unsolicited or deceptive
25    communications received online.
26        (5) Recognizing and reporting online harassment and

 

 

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1    cyber-bullying.
2        (6) Reporting illegal activities and communications on
3    the Internet.
4        (7) Copyright laws on written materials, photographs,
5    music, and video.
6    (d) Curricula devised in accordance with subsection (c) of
7this Section may be submitted for review to the Office of the
8Illinois Attorney General.
9    (e) The State Board of Education shall make available
10resource materials for educating children regarding child
11online safety and may take into consideration the curriculum
12on this subject developed by other states, as well as any other
13curricular materials suggested by education experts, child
14psychologists, or technology companies that work on child
15online safety issues. Materials may include without limitation
16safe online communications, privacy protection,
17cyber-bullying, viewing inappropriate material, file sharing,
18and the importance of open communication with responsible
19adults. The State Board of Education shall make these resource
20materials available on its Internet website.
21    (f) Beginning January 1, 2024 and at least once every 3
22years thereafter, the State Board of Education shall review
23this Section and submit a report to the General Assembly of
24recommended revisions to this Section to ensure an Internet
25safety education curriculum under this Section aligns with
26current best practices and reflects current technology and

 

 

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1customary uses of the Internet.
2(Source: P.A. 95-509, eff. 8-28-07; 95-869, eff. 1-1-09;
396-734, eff. 8-25-09.)