Lawmakers send Holden school Internet measure

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Public schools and libraries would have to take more steps to prevent young people from looking at objectionable Internet sites under a bill headed to Gov. Bob Holden's desk.

The measure, which was part of a larger utility bill, was given final approval Friday on a 28-2 Senate vote. The bill had passed the House earlier and it would go into effect immediately if the governor signs it.

Similar bills passed the Senate in each of the past two years but died in the House.

"I hope this protects children from accessing objectionable material both at school and at public libraries," said sponsoring Sen. Sarah Steelman.

Steelman, a mother of three, said she has concerns about what kind of material children can access on the Internet.

"They are on the computer all the time and it worries me," said Steelman, R-Rolla.

The measure would require elementary and secondary schools to provide filtering software for computers used by students or to receive Internet service from a provider that can filter pornographic material.

Public schools would have until Jan. 1 to write rules that would set the standard for what is considered pornographic material.