The "Freedom to Read Act" is designed to safeguard individuals' rights, particularly those of students, to access a wide array of library materials without facing censorship. It underscores that the freedom to read is a constitutionally protected right under the First Amendment, affirming that students retain this right in school settings. The bill mandates school boards to develop policies that promote diverse viewpoints in library collections and prohibits censorship based on the content's origin or the creators' perspectives. Additionally, it establishes a structured process for the removal of library materials, requiring the creation of a request for removal form and the appointment of a review committee to assess such requests, while ensuring that materials remain accessible during the review.

Furthermore, the bill requires public libraries to adopt a model policy for handling removal requests, which includes a standardized form for challenges and mandates that a review committee make recommendations within 30 business days. It prohibits the removal of materials based on their origin or the creators' views, thereby preventing censorship. The legislation also affirms residents' rights to access any library material, including diverse works, and provides immunity to library staff from civil and criminal liability when acting in good faith under the act's provisions. The act is set to take effect one year after its enactment to allow for proper implementation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 10:5-12