Sen. Beth Mizell (R) District 12
Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell is hoping to ban access of sexually explicit or pornographic content by using state-issued phones and or computers at colleges and universities with Senate Bill 131. Mizell said while it’s already enforced among state offices it now adds postsecondary education to the adopting the policy.
“I think it was six months ago, employees at LSU had I think 160 files of child-porn on their state-owned device. It’s just not acceptable,” Mizell.
And while Mizell thought the bill would not be controversial whatsoever she has encountered pushback from groups saying a filter forbidding access of sexually explicit or pornographic content colleges is a first amendment violation.
“Honestly, I thought this was going to be just one of my easiest bills this year. This just seems like such a small ask for the protection of taxpayer money,” said Mizell.
In 2018 legislation prohibiting the access of material deemed sexually explicit via state-issued devices went into effect with colleges given the exception for research purposes. But Mizell said it’s time for that to change now, especially in light of the Title IX violations at LSU.
“I’ve realized at that time, that the excuse of research really gave too much latitude to using government devices for unintended purposes,” said Mizell.
The bill has been referred to the Committee on Education.
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