Public Internet Access Safety Act

News From New York State
Senator Shirley L. Huntley
For Immediate Release: June 25, 2012
Contact: Bryant G. Gaspard | gaspard@nysenate.gov | (518) 455-3531

**PRESS RELEASE**

Senator Shirley L. Huntley Passes “Public Internet
Access Safety Act"

(Albany, NY) On June 19, 2012, Senator Huntley (D-Jamaica) passed her Public Internet Access Safety bill (S. 3064) with an unanimous vote of 59-0. The bill seeks to have the New York State Division of Criminal Justice establish and maintain an internet website that provides information to minors on the potential dangers of using the internet. Minors would be informed about a myriad of issues such as sexual predators, safe-blogging, on-line bullying, social networking safety and other internet safety information the division deems appropriate. “Protecting and informing our children regarding possible dangers over the internet is paramount to ensuring they understand and are cognitive of who or what may be on the internet,” said Senator Huntley.

Children and teens use the internet daily in public libraries. The internet poses specific dangers to minors, especially in unsupervised settings such as a public library. Currently, when children use a library computer there is no warning about the dangers that exist. To protect our children, it is critical they understand the risks related to cyber-bullying, blogging, social networking sites, online predators and any other potentially dangerous internet activity that exists.