By Aman Chabra, Local News 8 Reporter
EASTERN IDAHO – The debate continues regarding pornography as an addiction or a harmless pastime, and potential legislation in the upcoming 2010 session could only add fuel to the fire.
Since 2008, the Citizens for Decency have promoted legislation requiring all public libraries and schools in Idaho to have pornography filters installed on their computers.
Their attempts to get the bill discussed during the 2009 session were unsuccessful due to the heavy emphasis placed on state’s budget.
Officials close to the bill believe this session could be different.
“It is an addiction and it is something that we need to try and make sure it is not available to our youth and those who do not have the judgment to make those appropriate decisions,” said State Senator Dean Mortimer of Idaho District 32.
Concern over pornography is nothing new for the legislature. In 2008, the legislature passed House Joint Memorial No. 7 which indicated the legislature was aware of the proclaimed effects of pornography, and affirmed their conviction to fight it. The memorial was signed by various members of the legislature, including Mortimer, who was in the state House of Representatives at the time.
The bill appears to have support from one local school district technology expert.
“Filters aren’t perfect, and to have something that would enforce and educate students on what to do would only help them make better decisions on their internet safety,” said Camille Wood, Director of Technology for Idaho Falls School District 91.
Others don’t seem as enthusiastic.
“Depending on how the legislation is written it could mean a bigger cost to us, because if they require us to have a filter, the company could charge whatever they wanted for it,” said Robert Wright, Director of the Idaho Falls Public Library.
Wright says the library already has a filter which focuses mainly on blocking hard-core pornography. Wright says the interpretations of pornography are different.
“What could be defined as pornography for some is different for others, so we leave it up to those using the library to watch themselves,” said Wright.
In 2001, the Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA) was passed in 2001 by Congress with influence from the FCC.
However, there is one loophole in CIPA pertaining to libraries.
Libraries run by local boards of trustees, or those that do not receive federal funding are NOT subject to the regulations found in CIPA.
It is unclear how this proposed legislation on the state level will apply.
Nevertheless, officials hope the public will step in and help the bill continue its quest for discussion on the legislative floor.
“(The Citizens for Decency) is a small entity, and we are aware we will probably have opposition, so we need the public to realize the dangers of pornography as it relates to our children, and we hope they will support this bill,” says Craig Cobia with Citizens for Decency.
The bill is still in development, and must be fully drafted February in order to make it to the legislative floor.
