Monroe County legislator Carrie Andrews is proposing some revisions to the county's law to protect children from cyberbullying.
The original legislation, passed in 2012, is similar to a law in Albany County that the State Court of Appeals found in violation of the First Amendment right to free speech in a July 2014 ruling.
Andrews wants to strengthen Monroe County's law with a more narrow definition of cyberbullying.
"To more closely reflect what the court alluded what would be acceptable. It doesn't ban speech that's protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. Instead, it defines cyberbullying as something that is intended to inflict emotional harm on a minor," she said.
The definition also includes the sharing of sexually explicit photos of a minor, and private or personal sexual information which is either factual or false.
"Because we do feel that is an area where the courts would say, 'Yes, this law is narrowly tailored,” Andrews said. “It doesn't violate anybody's First Amendment rights. It's appropriate to stay on the books.' It targets an area of material we do want to ban and is constitutional to ban."
The proposed changes will be considered by the legislature's Agenda/Charter committee at tonight's meeting at 5:30.
Anyone who wishes to speak in the public forum prior to the meeting should call 753-1950.
