ASSEMBLY, No. 592

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

209th LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2000 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman BARBARA BUONO

District 18 (Middlesex)

Assemblyman GEORGE F. GEIST

District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen Barnes and Jones

SYNOPSIS

    Prohibits dissemination of student personal information on the Internet without parental consent.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

    Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

(Sponsorship Updated As Of: 2/1/2000)

An Act concerning certain student information posted on the Internet and supplementing chapter 36 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The board of education of each school district and the board of trustees of each charter school that establishes an Internet web site, shall not disclose on that web site any personally identifiable information about a student without receiving prior written consent from the student's parent or guardian on a form developed by the Department of Education. The written consent form shall contain a statement concerning the potential dangers of personally identifiable information about individual students on the Internet.

    As used in this act, "personally identifiable information" means student names, student photos, student addresses, student phone numbers, specific locations and times of school events such as class trips, and other similar information.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    As we progress into the information age, we need to ensure that proper protections are in place to provide safety for children. The Internet can be an excellent tool for students, but should be closely monitored to ensure the highest levels of security to protect vulnerable children. This bill requires the board of education of each school district and the board of trustees of a charter school which establishes Internet web sites, not to disclose on that web site any personally identifiable information about a student without receiving prior written consent on a form from the student's parent or guardian. The written consent form will be developed by the Department of Education and shall contain a statement concerning the potential dangers of displaying personally identifiable information about individual students on the Internet.