[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1047 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1047

    To promote Internet safety education and cybercrime prevention 
                  initiatives, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 14, 2009

 Mr. Menendez introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To promote Internet safety education and cybercrime prevention 
                  initiatives, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``School And Family Education about 
the Internet Act of 2009'' or the ``SAFE Internet Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Internet is an invaluable tool that is critical to 
        the ability of the Nation to compete in a global economy. The 
        Internet provides instant access to research and boundless 
        information, and establishes digital connections between 
        individuals around the world.
            (2) About 93 percent of youth ages 12 through 17 years are 
        online and nearly 45 percent of children ages 3 to 11 years 
        will use the Internet on a monthly basis in 2009. Eighty-nine 
        percent of youth 13 through 19 years of age have a profile on 
        social-networking sites. Eighty percent of teens 13 through 17 
        years of age use cell phones, most of which have built-in 
        cameras.
            (3) Internet safety education, coupled with technology 
        tools, is the most effective way to resolve and prevent the 
        problems and dangers relating to misuse of the Internet and 
        other new media.
            (4) According to an empirical study of 1,379 fourth grade 
        students in Virginia, the first State to mandate Internet 
        safety education in its schools, the students improved their 
        responses to 8 of 10 questions after completing an Internet 
        safety education program, especially in 2 major areas, 
        uncomfortable content and cyberbullying.
            (5) As a result of the enactment of the Children's Internet 
        Protection Act (Public Law 106-554; 114 Stat. 2763A-336) in 
        2000, which mandated that schools implement Internet safety 
        policies and technology protection measures to receive E-Rate 
        funding, most schools have developed acceptable use policies 
        and implemented filtering and other technology-based solutions 
        to help protect children.
            (6) Most elementary and secondary school educators have 
        received little or no professional development training on 
        Internet safety. As a result, many students receive little or 
        no education on safe, responsible, and ethical use of Internet 
        and other new media.
            (7) The widespread use of the Internet, cell phones, 
        interactive gaming, and other electronic communication devices 
        by children both inside and outside of school suggest that 
        acceptable use policies and filtering alone cannot resolve 
        Internet safety concerns, and that a greater focus on education 
        would be beneficial.
            (8) In a national poll on children's health, parents ranked 
        Internet safety fifth among their top health concerns for 
        children. Educating parents about Internet safety is key to 
        empowering them to understand actual risks and to take an 
        active role in protecting their children.
            (9) The problem of online harassment or cyberbullying of 
        youth by other youths is widespread, and results in a range of 
        children's experiences from minor irritation to severe 
        emotional harm. The Bureau of Justice Statistics has found that 
        online harassment tends to begin in third and fourth grade, 
        peaks in seventh and eighth grade, and continues in reduced 
        amounts throughout high school, college, and professional 
        schools.
            (10) Young people face greater risks in the form of 
        electronic aggression and sexual solicitation from other young 
        people known to them than from strangers.
            (11) Gang members increasingly are using the Internet as a 
        recruitment tool to entice would-be members and as an 
        intimidation tool to threaten rival gangs. Gang members use the 
        Internet in particular to promote their message.
            (12) More research is needed in several areas of youth 
        online safety, including--
                    (A) minor-to-minor solicitation to use the Internet 
                in an inappropriate manner;
                    (B) the creation of problematic content by youths;
                    (C) lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth 
                and youth with disabilities who may be particularly 
                vulnerable;
                    (D) the interplay between socioeconomic class and 
                risk factors;
                    (E) the role that pervasive digital image and video 
                capture devices play in harassment of youth by other 
                youth and youth production of problematic content;
                    (F) the intersection of different mobile and 
                Internet-based technologies; and
                    (G) the online activities of registered sex 
                offenders.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) facilitate research and identify best practices in 
        Internet safety education; and
            (2) establish a competitive grant program for State 
        educational agencies, local educational agencies, and nonprofit 
        organizations to promote Internet safety education in the 
        community.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Applicable agency heads.--The term ``applicable agency 
        heads'' means the Director, with the concurrence of the 
        Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services.
            (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
            (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a partnership between a State educational 
                agency and 1 or more local educational agencies (as 
                those terms are defined in section 9101 of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 7801)) of the State;
                    (B) a local educational agency;
                    (C) a nonprofit organization; or
                    (D) a consortium of elementary schools or secondary 
                schools (as those terms are defined in section 9101 of 
                the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 7801)) collaborating with an entity described in 
                subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).
            (4) Grant guidance.--The term ``grant guidance'' means the 
        grant guidance issued under section 4(e)(1).
            (5) Internet safety education program.--The term ``Internet 
        safety education program'' means an age-appropriate, research-
        based program that encourages safe, ethical, and responsible 
        use of the Internet, promotes an informed, critical 
        understanding of the Internet, and educates children and 
        communities about how to prevent or respond to problems or 
        dangers related to the Internet or new media.
            (6) New media.--The term ``new media''--
                    (A) means emerging digital, computerized, or 
                networked information and communication technologies 
                that often have interactive capabilities; and
                    (B) includes e-mail, instant messaging, text 
                messaging, websites, blogs, interactive gaming, social 
                media, cell phones, and mobile devices.
            (7) Nonprofit.--The term ``nonprofit'' means that a person 
        is an organization that is described in section 501(c) of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and exempt from tax under 
        section 501(a) of that Code.

SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Authority To Make Grants.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to subsection (e)(1), the 
        Director, after consultation with the Secretary of Education 
        and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, may make grants 
        to eligible entities to carry out an Internet safety education 
        program and other activities relating to Internet safety.
            (2) Period.--A grant under this section shall be for a 2-
        year period.
    (b) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
section shall submit an application to the Director, which shall 
include--
            (1) a description of the partnership arrangements, if any, 
        of the eligible entity relating to the activities to be carried 
        out with the grant;
            (2) a description of the measurable goals of the eligible 
        entity relating to the activities to be carried out with the 
        grant;
            (3) a description of how the Internet safety education 
        program of the eligible entity shall achieve the measurable 
        goals described in paragraph (2);
            (4) a description of the plan of the eligible entity to 
        continue to implement the Internet safety education program 
        after the grant under this section ends;
            (5) a description of how funds under the grant may be used 
        and coordinated with Internet safety education programs being 
        carried out on the date of enactment of this Act or other 
        Internet safety education programs established with grants 
        under this section;
            (6) a description of the demographics of the individuals 
        that shall be targeted under the proposed Internet safety 
        education program; and
            (7) any other information or assurances required by the 
        Director.
    (c) Prioritization.--In making grants under this section, the 
Director shall give priority to an eligible entity that--
            (1) is comprised of a partnership between 1 or more 
        nonprofit groups and education agencies;
            (2) identifies and targets at-risk children;
            (3) works in partnership with the private sector, law 
        enforcement, the philanthropic community, the media, 
        researchers, social services organizations, or other community-
        based groups;
            (4) provides Internet safety education programs at no cost 
        to students or schools;
            (5) accommodates different languages and language 
        proficiencies;
            (6) accommodates differing levels of technological 
        sophistication; or
            (7) has a viable plan to sustain the Internet safety 
        education program after the grant program ends.
    (d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity may use a grant under this 
section to--
            (1) identify, develop, and implement Internet safety 
        education programs, including educational technology, 
        multimedia and interactive applications, online resources, and 
        lesson plans;
            (2) provide professional training to elementary and 
        secondary teachers, administrators, and other staff on Internet 
        safety and new media literacy;
            (3) develop online-risk prevention programs for children;
            (4) train and support peer-driven Internet safety education 
        initiatives;
            (5) coordinate and fund research initiatives that 
        investigate online risks to children and Internet safety 
        education;
            (6) develop and implement public education campaigns to 
        promote awareness of online risks to children and Internet 
        safety education;
            (7) educate parents about teaching their children how to 
        use the Internet and new media safely, responsibly, and 
        ethically and help parents identify and protect their children 
        from risks relating to use of the Internet and new media; or
            (8) carry out any other activity approved by the Director.
    (e) Grant Guidance.--
            (1) In general.--Before making grants under this section, 
        and not later than 1 month after the date on which the study 
        under paragraph (3)(A) is completed, the applicable agency 
        heads, in consultation with education groups, Internet safety 
        groups, and other relevant experts in the field of new media, 
        shall issue detailed guidance for the grant program under this 
        section.
            (2) Contents of guidance.--The grant guidance shall be in 
        accordance with best practices relating to Internet education 
        and the research-based recommendations derived from the study 
        conducted under paragraph (3)(A).
            (3) Internet safety research.--
                    (A) Initial research.--The applicable agency heads 
                shall enter into contracts with one or more private 
                companies, government agencies, or nonprofit 
                organizations to complete a study, not later than 3 
                months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
                regarding--
                            (i) the nature and prevalence of Internet 
                        safety education programs and any evidence-
                        based research conducted relating to the 
                        programs;
                            (ii) findings regarding at-risk children;
                            (iii) gaps in Internet safety education and 
                        youth online risk research; and
                            (iv) any other area determined appropriate 
                        by the applicable agency heads.
                    (B) Additional research.--Subject to the 
                availability of appropriations, the applicable agency 
                heads shall enter into contracts with private 
                companies, government agencies, or nonprofit 
                organizations to conduct additional research regarding 
                the issues described in subparagraph (A). Any research 
                conducted under this subparagraph shall be included in 
                the reports under subsection (g)(3).
    (f) Technical Assistance.--The applicable agency heads shall 
provide technical assistance to eligible entities that receive a grant 
under this section, which may include maintaining a website to 
facilitate outreach and communication among the eligible entities that 
receive a grant under this section.
    (g) Reports.--
            (1) By eligible entities.--An eligible entity that receives 
        a grant under this section shall issue publically an annual 
        report regarding the activities carried out using funds made 
        available under the grant, which shall include--
                    (A) a description of how the eligible entity 
                implemented the Internet safety education program 
                carried out with the grant;
                    (B) the number and demographic characteristics of 
                the individuals reached;
                    (C) an analysis of whether and to what degree the 
                goals for the Internet safety education program were 
                met; and
                    (D) an analysis of the challenges, if any, that 
                interfered with achieving the goals described in 
                subparagraph (C).
            (2) Compilation of annual reports for revised grant 
        guidance.--The applicable agency heads shall--
                    (A) review the report under paragraph (1) issued by 
                each eligible entity that receives a grant under this 
                section during the first fiscal year for which grants 
                under this section are made; and
                    (B) not later than 6 months after the date on which 
                all reports described in subparagraph (A) are issued, 
                modify the grant guidance based on the reports.
            (3) Reports to congress.--Not later than 27 months after 
        the date on which the Director makes the first grant under this 
        section, and annually thereafter, the applicable agency heads 
        shall submit to Congress a report regarding the grant program 
        under this section, which shall include--
                    (A) a compilation of the information and findings 
                of the annual reports issued under paragraph (1);
                    (B) the findings and conclusions of the applicable 
                agency heads, including findings and conclusions 
                relating to the effectiveness of Internet safety 
                education programs carried out using a grant under this 
                section; and
                    (C) best practices identified by the applicable 
                agency heads relating to Internet safety education.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director to carry out this section $35,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014. Of amounts made available to 
carry out this section, not more than 5 percent shall be available to 
carry out subsections (e), (f), and (g)(2).
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