School boards would protect access to challenged library materials

Each school district's board would have to adopt policies for library collections, programs and displays, and challenges to library materials. The policies would cover school library resources and follow standards for free speech, voluntary inquiry, protection from harassment and discrimination, and support for academic learning.

A district could remove a library resource from its permanent collection only after review under its policy; a committee would recommend whether to remove it. The rules would apply to resources in a school district's permanent library collection. Only a student, school staff member, or parent or guardian of a student at that school could complain. The challenged item would stay in the library and remain available to students until a final decision. Removal could not be based on doctrinal or partisan reasons, or the author's background or viewpoints. The complainant could appeal to the school board, which would have to give written reasons for its decision, including when it rejects the committee's recommendation. The committee would have to recommend an outcome within 60 school days after receiving a complaint. After the committee decides, the item could not face a new review for four years.

Districts could not restrict displays or programs for doctrinal or partisan reasons or because of an author's background or viewpoints; library staff could not be punished for specified good-faith decisions. These provisions would apply to school library displays, programs, and staff. People responsible for library content could still remove outdated items or make room for new ones, if the decision was not based on personal, political, or doctrinal views. The staff protection would cover refusing to remove an item before review, and making display, acquisition, or programming decisions in good faith and in line with the section's standards.