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SALT LAKE CITY — A bill that would require internet service providers to notify their consumers of available internet pornography filtering services at least once a year or face severe fines was advanced by a Utah Senate committee Thursday.
Current law already requires ISPs to provide those services, however, Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, the sponsor of SB134, expressed concern that only two women in a room of 35 politically active PTA members knew that online filtering services were available.
The bill is part of Weiler's "ongoing effort to protect children from pornography,” he said. SB134 seeks to significantly raise awareness of the filtering services that are available.
The bill also adds teeth to enforce the previously passed law. ISPs in violation of the law would face a $50,000 fine, and they would still be fined $2,500 for each failure to block material harmful to minors, up to $15,000 per day.
The bill was advanced by the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee unanimously. It now goes to the Senate floor.
