Sexting Risks Would Be Taught In IL Schools Under New Bill

ILLINOIS — School children learning about sex education could soon learn about the dangers of “sexting.”

House Bill 4007 was unanimously approved Wednesday by the state House of Representatives. It would require schools that do teach sex education to include age-appropriate information about the dangers of sending sexually explicit photos or videos from a mobile device. It would not mandate that the content be taught in schools.

“This bill is simply saying those who do provide sexual education instruction have to include this,” said state Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford.

When students send this content, state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray said students need to be taught about the criminal implications.

“We have had at least one death of a minor who committed a crime unknowingly,” she said, referencing a Naperville teen who killed himself after authorities said he’d be charged with child pornography for having sexually explicit images of another student.

The bill now awaits consideration in the Senate.

From The Center Square:
By Cole Lauterbach

The focus of the work of The Center Square Illinois is state- and local-level government and economic reporting that approaches stories with a taxpayer sensibility. For more stories from The Center Square, visit TheCenterSquare.com.