§100.7. Policies; governing authorities of public elementary and secondary schools; Internet and online sites; access by students and employees; resources for parents; exceptions

A.(1) Each governing authority of a public elementary or secondary school shall adopt policies, in accordance with policies adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, regarding access by students and employees to Internet and online sites that contain or make reference to harmful material the character of which is such that it is reasonably believed to be obscene, child pornography, conducive to the creation of a hostile or dangerous school environment, pervasively vulgar, excessively violent, or sexually harassing in the school environment all as defined by any applicable state or federal laws and the policies adopted pursuant to this Subsection. Such policies shall include but not be limited to prohibitions against accessing sites containing information on the manufacturing or production of bombs or other incendiary devices.

(2) Any policies adopted by a governing authority of a public elementary or secondary school pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection shall include the use of computer-related technology or the use of Internet service provider technology designed to block access or exposure to any harmful material as specified in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, or both.

(3) The provisions of this Subsection shall not prohibit any authorized employee or student of a public elementary or secondary school from having unfiltered or unrestricted access to the Internet or an online service for legitimate scientific or educational purposes as determined and approved by the employing governing authority.

(4) The provisions of this Subsection shall not prohibit any authorized student in a public elementary or secondary school from having unfiltered or unrestricted access to the Internet or online services of a newspaper with a daily circulation of at least one thousand.

B.(1) The state Department of Education shall prepare information to be distributed to each public school governing authority for dissemination to the parent of each student enrolled in a school under its jurisdiction regarding the public health risks and harms associated with pornography.

(2) The information shall include the following:

(a) The dangers of sexually charged cyberbullying.

(b) The addictive and destructive nature of pornographic and illicit materials.

(c) The dangers of internet interaction with strangers.

(d) Resources available to parents who are seeking information regarding child safeguards and free internet filters for home computers. A list of free internet filters that filter out pornography shall also be provided.

Acts 1999, No. 1014, §1; Acts 2018, No. 369, §1.