HBA-BSM H.B. 2824 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2824
By: Smithee
Economic Development
4/3/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current Texas law, publicly funded schools and libraries are not
required to install protection software on public access computers used to
access the Internet.  Protection software restricts minors from gaining
computer access to material that is obscene or illegal.  Several states
have passed laws limiting access to public funds for any public school or
public library that provides computers without protection software.  House
Bill 2824 limits access to certain funds and discounts for any public
school or public library that provides a computer used to access the
Internet that is not equipped with technology protection software. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2824 amends the Education Code to set forth that a public school
that provides a computer used to access the Internet that is not equipped
with a technology protection measure is not eligible for a loan or grant
through the telecommunications infrastructure fund or for certain reduced
rates.  H.B. 2824 amends the Government Code to provide that a public
library that provides a computer with Internet access to the public is not
eligible for a loan or grant under the Library Systems Act or the
telecommunications infrastructure fund or for certain reduced rates  unless
the public library implements a policy establishing measures to restrict
minors from gaining access to obscene material on the Internet or  equips
the computer with a technology protection measure.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.