HBA-BSM H.B. 2824 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2824 By: Smithee Economic Development 4/3/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current Texas law, publicly funded schools and libraries are not required to install protection software on public access computers used to access the Internet. Protection software restricts minors from gaining computer access to material that is obscene or illegal. Several states have passed laws limiting access to public funds for any public school or public library that provides computers without protection software. House Bill 2824 limits access to certain funds and discounts for any public school or public library that provides a computer used to access the Internet that is not equipped with technology protection software. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 2824 amends the Education Code to set forth that a public school that provides a computer used to access the Internet that is not equipped with a technology protection measure is not eligible for a loan or grant through the telecommunications infrastructure fund or for certain reduced rates. H.B. 2824 amends the Government Code to provide that a public library that provides a computer with Internet access to the public is not eligible for a loan or grant under the Library Systems Act or the telecommunications infrastructure fund or for certain reduced rates unless the public library implements a policy establishing measures to restrict minors from gaining access to obscene material on the Internet or equips the computer with a technology protection measure. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.