Bill > A4609

Introduced Session

This bill, entitled the "Protecting Students from Obscene Material in School Libraries Act," requires boards of education to safeguard students from obscene material in school libraries and against school employees who provide obscene materials to students in school libraries. This bill requires boards of education to adopt a policy regarding obscene material in school libraries. Under the bill the policy is to: (1) establish criteria for material that is appropriate for a school library; (2) prohibit the inclusion of obscene material in a school library; (3) mandate that all school employees, including school library media specialists, comply with the State's criminal code's Obscenity For Persons Under 18; (4) create a procedure for a board to investigate a claim of a school employee's alleged violation of Obscenity For Persons Under 18, which in part prohibits a person from knowingly distributing or exhibiting obscene material to persons under 18 years of age; and (5) establish a scale of disciplinary actions against a school employee based on guidance and resources established by the Commissioner of Education. The commissioner, in consultation with the State Librarian, is to develop and distribute to school districts guidance and resources regarding: (1) examples of obscene material that are not to be included in a school library; (2) information concerning when a board of education should refer an allegation of a violation of Obscenity For Persons Under 18 to law enforcement; (3) recommended disciplinary actions against a school employee, which include termination of employment for a criminal conviction under Obscenity For Persons Under 18; and (4) any other information the commissioner deems necessary. The bill authorizes the commissioner to enforce the provisions of the bill. If the commissioner determines that a school district is noncompliant, the commissioner may impose appropriate sanctions, which can include the withholding of funds payable by the State to a school district.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

John Azzariti (R)*,  Dawn Fantasia (R)*,  Michael Inganamort (R)*,  Bob Auth (R), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 06/20/2024)

Official Document