Florida Senate - 2009                                     SB 324
       
       
       
       By Senator Crist
       
       
       
       
       12-00319A-09                                           2009324__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to state aid to public libraries;
    3         amending s. 257.12, F.S.; encouraging all public
    4         libraries to implement an Internet safety education
    5         program for children and adults; providing minimum
    6         requirements for the program; requiring libraries to
    7         annually report to the Division of Library and
    8         Information Services of the Department of State the
    9         number of participants who complete the program;
   10         requiring that the division adopt rules to award
   11         additional points to grant applicants implementing
   12         such a program; providing an effective date.
   13         
   14  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   15         
   16         Section 1. Subsection (3) is added to section 257.12,
   17  Florida Statutes, to read:
   18         257.12 Division of Library and Information Services
   19  authorized to accept and expend federal funds.—
   20         (3) All public libraries are encouraged to adopt an
   21  Internet safety education program, including the implementation
   22  of a computer-based educational program, which has been endorsed
   23  by a government-sanctioned law enforcement agency or other
   24  reputable public safety advocacy organization and is designed
   25  for children and adults. The purpose of the Internet safety
   26  education program is to promote the use of prudent online
   27  deportment and broaden awareness of online predators. The
   28  program must be interactive and age-appropriate. Each library
   29  shall annually report to the division the annual number of
   30  program participants who complete the Internet safety education
   31  program. By April 1, 2010, the division shall adopt rules for
   32  rewarding those libraries in the program grant application
   33  process which have had 1 percent or more of their annual number
   34  of program participants, based on the total number of registered
   35  borrowers from the preceding year, complete the Internet safety
   36  education program adopted by the library. Program participants
   37  completing the program as a result of strategic partnerships or
   38  collaboration between the library and other entities shall be
   39  integrated into the library's annual report. The division shall
   40  adopt rules to allocate 10 percent of the total points available
   41  in the library services and technology grant application
   42  evaluation process to public libraries that are in compliance
   43  with this section, beginning with the grant application cycle
   44  for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
   45         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.