The bill revises school library laws by requiring school trustees to adopt comprehensive policies for the selection, review, and reconsideration of library materials. It establishes a formal process for registered electors to request the reconsideration of materials, which must first be referred to the school librarian for a written report. A review committee, composed of an equal number of teachers and registered electors, along with at least one administrator or trustee, will evaluate the request and provide written findings to the trustees. The trustees are then obligated to review these findings in a public meeting and issue a final written decision, which can be appealed to district court within 30 days.

Key amendments include the establishment of specific criteria for selecting materials that align with educational objectives and are appropriate for students' maturity levels. The bill also includes an appropriation of $5,000 from the general fund to support the implementation of the new rules and specifies a delayed effective date of January 1, 2024, replacing the previously proposed date of July 1, 2023. Overall, the bill aims to enhance governance and community involvement in school library collections while ensuring a structured process for addressing concerns about library materials.

Statutes affected:
HB0913_1.pdf: 20-3-210, 20-3-324, 20-7-203, 20-7-204
HB0913_2.pdf: 20-3-210, 20-3-324, 20-7-203, 20-7-204
Amended: 20-3-210, 20-3-324, 20-7-203, 20-7-204
Introduced: 20-3-210, 20-3-324, 20-7-203, 20-7-204