Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

Act No. 150                                                                                   Page 1 of 2
2024
This act summary is provided for the convenience of the public and members of the General Assembly. It
is intended to provide a general summary of the act and may not be exhaustive. It has been prepared by the
staff of the Office of Legislative Counsel without input from members of the General Assembly. It is not
intended to aid in the interpretation of legislation or to serve as a source of legislative intent.
Act No. 150 (S.220). An act relating to Vermont’s public libraries
        Subjects: Miscellaneous amendments; libraries; libraries, history, and information
        technology
           This act makes several amendments to the laws governing public and school libraries,
        including the following:
           •   Sec. 1 of this act amends 22 V.S.A. § 67 by adding a policy statement that states it
               is necessary for the governing bodies and managers of free public libraries to adopt
               policies that comply with the First Amendment and State and federal civil rights
               and antidiscrimination laws to ensure Vermont libraries protect and promote
               principles of free speech, inquiry, discover, and public accommodation.
           •   Sec. 2 of this act adds a new section to the Free Public Library Service chapter in
               Title 22 that requires all public libraries to adopt material selection policies and
               procedures for the reconsideration and retention of library materials that comply
               with the First Amendment, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, State laws prohibiting
               discrimination in places of public accommodation, and that reflect Vermont’s
               diverse people and history, including diversity of race, ethnicity, sex, gender
               identity, sexual orientation, disability status, religion, and political beliefs.
           •   Sec. 3 of this act amends the age up to which custodial parents or guardians have
               access to their child’s library records from age 16 to 12. Under this amendment,
               parents will have access to their child’s library records if the child is under 12
               years of age.
           •   Sec. 4 of this act amends 13 V.S.A. § 1702, the criminal threatening statute in Title
               13. It adds public libraries to the list of places where, if conduct that constitutes
               criminal threatening occurs, the criminal penalty for such conduct is augmented.
           •   Sec. 5 of this act amends the general powers section for public libraries that are not
               municipal libraries by specifically enumerating some of the powers of the trustees,
               managers, or directors of the library.
           •   Sec. 6 of this act specifies that a municipal library director shall be under the
               supervision and control of the library board of trustees unless another relationship
               is otherwise specified in the municipality’s charter or other written agreement
               between the trustees and municipality. This section also amends the powers of the
               trustees for a municipal library by specifically enumerating some of the powers of
               the trustees.
           •   Sec. 7 of this act amends the duties and functions of the State Department of
               Libraries.
                                                                                          VT LEG #377567 v.2
Act No. 150                                                                             Page 2 of 2
2024
         •    Sec. 7a of this act establishes a requirement for each school board and each
              approved independent school to develop, adopt, and ensure enforcement of a
              library material selection policy and procedures for the reconsideration and
              retention of materials that affirms the importance of intellectual freedom, guided
              by the First Amendment, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Vermont laws prohibiting
              discrimination in places of public accommodation, the American Library
              Association’s Freedom to Read Statement, Vermont’s Freedom to Read Statement,
              and that reflect Vermont’s diverse people and history, including diversity of race,
              ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, religion, and
              political beliefs.
      Multiple effective dates, beginning on July 1, 2024
                                                                                    VT LEG #377567 v.2
Statutes affected: 
As Introduced: 22-67, 22-606, 22-172, 13-1702, 13-4004, 22-105, 22-141, 22-142, 22-143
As Passed By the Senate -- Official: 22-67, 22-606, 22-172, 13-1702, 13-4004, 22-105, 22-141, 22-142, 22-143
As Passed By the Senate -- Unofficial: 22-67, 22-172, 13-1702, 22-105, 22-143, 22-606
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 22-67, 22-606, 22-172, 13-1702, 13-4004, 22-105, 22-141, 22-142, 22-143
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 22-67, 22-172, 13-1702, 22-105, 22-143, 22-606
As Enacted: 22-67, 22-172, 13-1702, 22-105, 22-143, 22-606