Internet Filtering of School Computers (H 5581A, S 0460A)

In June, the House Health, Education and Welfare committee approved legislation sponsored by Representative Arthur Handy, addressing the use of Internet filters on school computers. Statewide, Internet filters used by school districts block considerably more information than is required by federal law, often without prior warning, derailing classroom lessons and hindering the ability of students to complete homework. In June, the House and Senate approved legislation requiring schools maintain a detailed written policy regarding the use of their filters, expressly permitting teachers to have websites unblocked in an expedient fashion, and requiring districts to reevaluate requests for unblocking annually to determine if any changes to the filter must be made. Although the House version was approved by the House, the Senate version was approved by the Senate, and both bills were scheduled to move in the opposite chamber, the final votes were not taken before the legislative session ended and the bills died.