At the Capitol, the Senate Education Committee advances a heavily amended bill to keep adult reading material in public libraries out of the hands of children. Turkey Creek republican Senator Heather Cloud says this is a matter of importance to a great many parents and grandparents across Louisiana…:
“They want the public libraries that they fund to simply have more modern controls in place to select and limit the level of access their children have to sexually explicit material,” says Cloud.
Cloud’s bill would set up a tiered library card system, wherein parents could select a lending level appropriate for their kid. Amendments added to the measure seek to clear up the definition of what constitutes “sexually explicit”, and establishes a 60-day warning period for libraries to address complaints. Cloud says libraries would not have to go over every book, looking for objectionable content…:
“…instead the triggers of this bill would only apply to books that have been brought up for reconsideration by a patron.”
Cloud’s bill would set up a two-step process for reviewing library books that have received complaints. Under the bill, libraries in violation could face loss of funding. Cloud says drafting the bill was a delicate process…:
“Our legal staff in the Senate had to be so careful in handling this material, because of its graphic content, and afraid of sexual harassment charges against us for this content.”
After an hour of discussion and before opposition could speak, Baton Rouge Senator Bodi White called the question for immediate vote. With no opposition from members, it moves to the Senate floor.
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