This bill amends existing laws to establish new requirements for public libraries in handling materials considered harmful to minors. It introduces definitions such as "adult section," "material harmful to minors," and "parent," and mandates that libraries create designated adult sections for such materials, which must be physically separated from areas for children and young adults. Access to these materials by minors is restricted to instances where parental consent is obtained, and libraries are required to maintain a system for tracking this consent for one year. The bill also outlines a reconsideration process for parents who wish to challenge the classification of materials and holds libraries accountable for compliance, including potential civil liability for violations.

In addition to these requirements, the bill establishes civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance, allowing parents to pursue civil actions against libraries or employees with damages ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. First offenses are classified as serious misdemeanors, while subsequent offenses are considered aggravated misdemeanors, carrying significant fines and possible imprisonment. The legislation also provides good-faith immunity for libraries that adhere to the new regulations, as long as violations are isolated and promptly corrected. Furthermore, it mandates the state librarian to submit an annual report to the general assembly on the implementation of these regulations, emphasizing the importance of parental rights in guiding their children's exposure to potentially harmful materials while ensuring adults retain full access to library resources.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 22.7, 728.1, 728.7, 8A.204