ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: ED DPA 6-4-0-0

HB 2699: internet safety instruction; public schools

Sponsor: Representative Martinez, LD 16

Caucus & COW

Overview

Requires students in each of the 5th-12th grades to receive internet safety instruction. Details internet safety instruction requirements and establishes a parental opt out option.

History

Statute tasks the State Board of Education (SBE) with prescribing a minimum course of study to be taught in common schools and for the graduation of students from high school. The minimum course of study must incorporate the academic standards adopted by SBE. Statute authorizes a school district governing board to establish course of study and competency requirements that are in addition to or higher than the course of study requirements prescribed by SBE. A school district governing board must prescribe curricula that includes the academic standards in the required subject areas (A.R.S. §§ 15-701, 15-701.01).

Provisions

1.   Directs SBE, beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, to include in the minimum course of study a requirement that students in each of the 5th-12th grades receive internet safety instruction.

2.   Specifies internet safety instruction must include best practices for:

a)   protecting students from opioids and online predators;

b)   safe online communication; and

c) protecting students' privacy, personal safety and other cyber security interests while using phone or computer applications.

3.   Instructs the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), by June 30, 2025, to compile age-appropriate resources that satisfy internet safety instruction requirements and to make these resources available to school districts and charter schools.

4.   Allows a school district or charter school to satisfy the internet safety instruction requirement by using:

a)   the ADE age-appropriate resources; or

b)   training provided by a county attorney's office or a state or federal agency.

5.   Requires a school district or charter school to provide a parent with an opportunity to opt their student out of the internet safety instruction and exempts the student from the instruction if opted out.

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

Amendments

Committee on Education

1.   Delays the requirement for SBE to include the internet safety instruction in the minimum course of study to the 2026-2027 school year.

2.   Modifies the best practices included in the internet safety instruction by:

a)   removing best practices for:

i. safe online instruction; and

ii.   protecting student's privacy, personal safety and other cyber security interests while using phone or computer applications;

b)   adding best practices for:

i. avoiding online scams; and

ii.   protecting passwords and personal information from online predators.

3.   Allows a school district or charter school to satisfy the internet safety instruction requirement by using training provided by a state or local law enforcement agency, rather than a state or federal agency.

4.   Clarifies a county attorney's office and state or local law enforcement agency is not required to provide the training to a school district or charter school.

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8.                     HB 2699

9.   Initials CH           Page 0 Caucus & COW

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