The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Serrett.
DIGEST
SB 131 Original 2022 Regular Session Mizell
Present law (R.S. 39:249) requires the division of administration to adopt policies relative to the
acceptable use by state employees of computers owned or leased by the state. Present law prohibits
internet access to online sites that contain material which is reasonably believed to be sexually
explicit, pornographic, or sexually harassing and, therefore, reasonably believed to create a hostile
work environment as prohibited by federal law.
Proposed law requires the Board of Regents and each public postsecondary education management
board to adopt policies regarding the:
(1)Acceptable use of computers owned or leased by each board, system office, and institution
under its supervision, including prohibiting use of the computers to access content which is
reasonably believed to be sexually explicit, pornographic, or sexually harassing and
reasonably believed to create a hostile work environment as prohibited by federal law.
(2)Acceptable use of internet services provided by or through each board, system office, and
institution under its control including prohibiting the use of the provided services to access
content reasonably believed to be sexually explicit, pornographic, or sexually harassing and
reasonably believed to create a hostile work environment as prohibited by federal law.
(3)Authorization of an employee or student to have unfiltered or unrestricted access to the
internet for legitimate scientific, educational, or law enforcement purposes. Proposed law
further requires the authorization to be given in writing to the employee or student, be kept
on file at the appropriate institution and board, specify the purpose for the access and the
time period during which the access is granted, and be periodically reviewed.
Proposed law requires the Board of Regents, each public postsecondary education management
board, and each public postsecondary education institution to utilize computer-related technology
to block access to any material prohibited in proposed law.
Proposed law clarifies that a public postsecondary employee or student shall not be restricted from
having unfiltered or unrestricted access to the internet or any online service on a computer or device
that is not owned by the board, office, or institution, so long as the computer or device is not used
to access any material prohibited in proposed law through an internet service provided by or through
the board, office, or institution.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:3383)