Lone-Star Filter Bill Introduced; Oklahoma
CIPA Clone Sails Through House
A bill that contains provisions similar to the federal Children’s Internet Protection Act was introduced March 12 in the Texas House. Four days later, the Oklahoma House passed a similar bill by a landslide 92–2 vote.
The Texas initiative, HB 2824, would make public schools ineligible for state funding unless they block obscene materials from Internet machines; public libraries would get more wiggle room, since they could retain their eligibility by opting to write Internet policies banning the display of obscene materials. “To think that tax money is being used to distribute these materials into the hands of children is simply beyond belief,” Rep. John Smithee (R-Amarillo), the bill’s sponsor, told the Morris News Service March 9.
In Oklahoma, House members have passed on to state senators legislation that would mandate schools and libraries to block any online items deemed obscene, child pornography or harmful to minors as defined by state law. If approved, HB 1864 would go into effect July 1.
Posted March 19, 2001.
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