MI SB0645

Prohibits school boards, administrators, and employees from subjecting student publications to prior review or censorship except when content is obscene to minors, defamatory, invades privacy, advertises illegal products/services to minors, or creates clear and present danger of unlawful acts, school regulation violations, or material disruption.

Requires schools to appoint a faculty adviser to supervise student publications, teach journalism standards, and encourage free expression; allows adviser to review materials for writing quality without this constituting censorship.

Designates student editorial staff as responsible for determining publication content and prohibits discipline or reassignment of faculty advisers for refusing to alter or interfere with student free expression rights.

Requires school boards operating student publications to adopt written policies within one year that are consistent with this section and distribute them to students and parents; shields schools from liability for student expression unless they altered or interfered with content.

Authorizes students and faculty advisers to seek injunctive relief, declaratory relief, or damages in circuit court for violations, with substantially prevailing plaintiffs eligible to recover attorney fees and court costs.