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GA HB1041
Bill
Status
Introduced
2/26/2020
Primary Sponsor
Karen Mathiak
Click for details
AI Summary
- Removes school libraries from the existing exemption to Georgia's law prohibiting the sale or distribution of harmful materials to minors (Code Section 16-12-103), while retaining the exemption for public libraries and college/university libraries
- Imposes a civil monetary penalty of $500 to $1,000 per violation on school-affiliated personnel (administrators, teachers, librarians, coaches, guest speakers, etc.) who knowingly sell, loan, distribute, or exhibit obscene materials to students, with each day in violation constituting a separate offense
- Eliminates the defense that materials were labeled, used, or intended for educational, political, or artistic purposes in the school context
- Requires each local board of education to establish a review committee composed of volunteer community representatives (not school employees) to review all instructional, library, and media center materials at least once per academic year, with no new materials permitted until reviewed and cleared
- Directs the State Board of Education to adopt rules prescribing preventive measures for all public elementary and secondary schools, including minimum content-filtering standards for school-owned devices (e.g., Chromebooks, iPads), parental access policies for material catalogs, and periodic reporting to the Governor and legislative education committee chairs
Legislative Description
Crimes and offenses; provisions of Code Section 16-12-103 shall be applicable to libraries operated by schools; provide
Last Action
House Second Readers
2/28/2020
Full Bill Text
No bill text available