Posted December 17, 2004.

Ohio Lawmakers Reject Internet Filtering Law

The Ohio House of Representatives voted unanimously December 15 not to concur with the Senate version of a harmful-to-minors bill that would prohibit public libraries from using state funds to purchase computers or Internet access unless all their public terminals have filtering software installed. The legislation also included language that would require public libraries to obtain documented parental permission for juveniles to borrow videos that might contain harmful material.

The wording was originally contained in Senate Bill 144, passed by Ohio’s upper house in February but stalled in a committee for several months. Early in December, the Senate added the language to House Bill 132, a measure intended to “expand and modify the penalty for the offense of public indecency,” and then adjourned, preventing the House from further amending the statute.

Ohio Library Council Director of Communications Mackenzie Betts said in a December 16 announcement that the House’s failure to concur with the amended bill means that “the provisions in SB 144 will not become law during this session of the Ohio General Assembly.”

Posted December 17, 2004.