| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to Internet safety education programs |
| 3 | in public libraries; amending s. 257.12, F.S.; |
| 4 | encouraging all public libraries to implement an |
| 5 | Internet safety education program for children and |
| 6 | adults; providing minimum requirements for the |
| 7 | program; requiring libraries to annually report to the |
| 8 | Division of Library and Information Services of the |
| 9 | Department of State the number of participants who |
| 10 | complete the program; requiring that the division |
| 11 | adopt rules to award additional points to grant |
| 12 | applicants implementing such a program; providing an |
| 13 | effective date. |
| 14 |
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| 15 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 16 |
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| 17 | Section 1. Subsection (3) is added to section 257.12, |
| 18 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 19 | 257.12 Division of Library and Information Services |
| 20 | authorized to accept and expend federal funds.-- |
| 21 | (3) All public libraries are encouraged to adopt an |
| 22 | Internet safety education program, including the implementation |
| 23 | of a computer-based educational program, which has been endorsed |
| 24 | by a government-sanctioned law enforcement agency or other |
| 25 | reputable public safety advocacy organization and is designed |
| 26 | for children and adults. The purpose of the Internet safety |
| 27 | education program is to promote the use of prudent online |
| 28 | behavior and broaden awareness of online predators. The program |
| 29 | must be interactive and age appropriate. Each library shall |
| 30 | annually report to the division the annual number of program |
| 31 | participants who complete the Internet safety education program. |
| 32 | By April 1, 2010, the division shall adopt rules for rewarding |
| 33 | those libraries in the program's grant application process which |
| 34 | have had 1 percent or more of their annual number of program |
| 35 | participants, based on the total number of registered borrowers |
| 36 | from the preceding year, complete the Internet safety education |
| 37 | program adopted by the library. Program participants completing |
| 38 | the program as a result of strategic partnerships or |
| 39 | collaboration between the library and other entities shall be |
| 40 | integrated into the library's annual report. The division shall |
| 41 | adopt rules to allocate 10 percent of the total points available |
| 42 | in the library services and technology grant application |
| 43 | evaluation process to public libraries that are in compliance |
| 44 | with this section, beginning with the grant application cycle |
| 45 | for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. |
| 46 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009. |