RICHMOND — Libraries that receive state funds would have to install

Internet filters that block Web sites with child pornography and other obscene content, under legislation filed by two Republican lawmakers.

Sen. Mark Obenshain of Harrisonburg and Delegate Samuel Nixon Jr. of Chesterfield County have filed such proposals with the support of the Family Foundation of Virginia, a conservative activist group.

"We have a duty to protect the children of our Commonwealth from being subjected to viewing this kind of material," said Obenshain, sponsor of Senate Bill 882. "This is an inexpensive and effective way to keep our children safe."

Victoria Cobb, the foundation’s executive director, said a recent incident in a Henrico County public library underscored the need for such a law.

She said a man at the library was viewing "obscene material" on a computer and a child nearby was exposed to it. The child’s parent asked the librarian to require the man to remove the material from his computer screen, but the librarian refused, Cobb said. The parent later called the Family Foundation about the matter.

Nixon said computer users can do an innocuous search for information on the Web and find themselves redirected to sites containing pornography.

"Equally disturbing is the ease by which children can be exposed to graphic sexual images even though they are only using the Internet in a very routine way," he said.

The legislation proposed by Nixon and Obsenshain would apply to libraries that receive state funding. Libraries that receive federal funding already must install filters under federal law.

"Our bill will simply bring Virginia into conformity with the federal government that already requires filters so that the innocence of our children is not stolen with taxpayer money," Cobb said.

Under his bill, Nixon said, librarians would be able to turn off the filters if they are blocking Web sites needed for legitimate research.