Short title

This Act may be cited as the

School And Family Education about the Internet Act of 2009

or the SAFE Internet Act.

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.

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.

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).