Arizona Filtering-Mandate Bill
Gains Ground
Arizona senators are considering passage of a bill that requires school libraries to install filtering software or employ a service to restrict access. HB2409, which passed the House of Representatives 42–16 on March 9, gives public libraries more latitude: They would be required to either filter or, under the regulatory eye of the state librarian, "establish a means of restricting minors' access to harmful internet websites." Libraries that comply would not be held liable if youngsters nonetheless access harmful materials online through their Internet service.
A Senate fact sheet prepared for lawmakers' convenience describes the bill's fiscal impact as minimal ("The cost of an Internet filter has previously been estimated at $30.50 by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee"), while admitting that most librarians oppose filtering on First Amendment and technical-feasibility grounds.
The bill was approved by the Senate's Family Services Committee on March 24.
Posted March 29, 1999.
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