A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide for internet safety instruction as part of the school technology plan, and to provide for the development and implementation of a public education program concerning Internet safety.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑102.6A(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	Components of the State school technology plan shall include at least the following:
(1)	Common technical standards and uniform practices and procedures that provide statewide economies of scale in procurements, training, support, planning, and operations.
(2)	Conceptual technical architecture that includes:
a.	Principles – Statements of direction, goals, and concepts to guide the development of technical architecture;
b.	Standards for interoperability – Detailed specifications to ensure hardware, software, databases, and other products that may have been developed independently or purchased from different vendors or manufacturers will work together, to the extent that interoperability facilitates meeting instructional or administrative goals; and
c.	Implementation strategies – Approaches or guidelines for developing and installing the components of the technical infrastructure.
(3)	A quality assurance policy for all school technology projects, training programs, systems documentation, and maintenance plans.
(4)	Policies and procedures for the fair and competitive procurement of school technology that provide local school administrative units with a vendor‑neutral operating environment in which different school technology hardware, software, and networks operate together easily and reliably, to the extent feasible consistent with meeting instructional or administrative goals. The operating environment includes all hardware and software components and configurations necessary to accomplish the integrated functions for school technology such as (i) types and sizes of computer platforms, telecommunications equipment, and associated communications protocols; (ii) operating systems for the computer processors; (iii) applications and other operating and support software; and (iv) other equipment, items, and software, such as printers, terminals, data and image storage devices, and other input, output, and storage devices.
(5)	A comprehensive policy for inventory control.
(6)	Parameters for continuous, ongoing training for all personnel involved in the use of school technology. Training shall focus on the integration of technology and instruction and on the use of particular applications.
(7)	Recommendations to the State Board of Education of requirements for preservice teacher training on the integration of teaching and school technology.
(8)	Proposals for leadership training on the use of school technology to improve instruction and as a management tool.
(9)	Development of expertise at the State and regional levels on school technology.
(10)	Flexibility to enable local school administrative units and individual schools to meet individual school unit and building needs.
(11)	Flexibility to meet the needs of all students, allow support to students with a wide range of abilities, and ensure access to challenging curricula and instruction for children at risk of school failure. 
(12)	Use of technologies to support challenging State and local educational performance goals.
(13)	Effective and integrated use of technologies compatible with (i) the standard course of study, (ii) the State assessment program, and (iii) related student data management.
(14)	Use of technologies as a communication, instructional, and management tool and for problem‑solving, exploration, and advanced skills.
(15)	Proposals for addressing equipment needs for vocational education, Tech Prep, and science instruction.
(16)	Specifications for minimum components of local school system technology plans.
(17)	A baseline template for:
a.	Technology and service application infrastructure, including broadband connectivity, personnel recommendations, and other resources needed to operate effectively from the classroom desktop to local, regional, and State networks, and
b.	An evaluation component that provides for local school administrative unit accountability for maintaining quality upgradeable systems.
(18)	An acceptable use policy to ensure that students use the Internet safely, responsibly, and effectively. At a minimum, the policy shall require that students receive instruction regarding the need to be discreet in sharing personal information online, the need to be alert to inappropriate overtures and how to handle those overtures, and the procedure for reporting inappropriate overtures. The policy shall provide for the development and distribution of an information sheet to provide parents with basic information about computers and offer tips for ensuring that all students have safe, productive, and enjoyable experiences on the Internet. The policy may include such other terms, conditions, and requirements as the Commission deems appropriate, such as requiring written parental authorization for Internet use by juveniles or differentiating acceptable uses among elementary, middle, and high school students."
SECTION 2.  	G.S. 115C‑102.6B(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	After presenting the plan or any proposed modifications to the plan to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations and the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, the Commission shall submit the plan or any proposed modifications to (i) the State Chief Information Officer for approval of the technical components of the plan set out in G.S. 115C‑102.6A(c)(1) through (4), and (ii) the State Board of Education for information purposes only. The State Board shall adopt a plan that includes the components of a plan set out in G.S.  115C‑102.6A(c)(1) through (18).At least one‑fourth of the members of any technical committee that reviews the plan for the State Chief Information Officer shall be people actively involved in primary or secondary education."
SECTION 3.  Using funds available to the Department of Justice, the Attorney General shall develop and implement a public education program concerning Internet safety. The program may consist of a series of public service announcements that address issues including the need to be discreet when sharing personal information, methods for monitoring the use of computers by minors, methods for protecting individuals and families from online crimes, and instruction on how to report Internet‑related crimes.
SECTION 4.   This act is effective when it becomes law.