SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 56

(By Senators Takubo, Weld, Cline, Hardesty, Prezioso, Roberts, Rucker, and Stollings)

[Originating in the Select Committee on Children and Families; reported on February 28, 2020]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Children and Families study online privacy protection for children.

Whereas, Children may be exposed to various risks to their privacy through their use of online resources such as Internet websites and mobile applications; and

Whereas, Children under the age of 13 are currently provided certain online privacy protections under federal law pursuant to the Children’s On-Line Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), 15 U.S.C. § 6501 et seq., and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule, 16 C.F.R. Part 312, promulgated thereunder; and

Whereas, A request for public comment on the Federal Trade Commission’s implementation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule was published in the Federal Register on July 25, 2019; and

Whereas, The public comment period has now ended and numerous comments were submitted; and

Whereas, Other states have passed legislation addressing children’s online privacy; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Children and Families is hereby requested to study online privacy protection for children; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Children and Families report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2021, on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, prepare a report, and draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.