PRINTER'S NO. 1131
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
926
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY CAPPELLETTI, HAYWOOD, FONTANA, SAVAL, COMITTA,
KANE, COLLETT AND MUTH, OCTOBER 3, 2023
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, OCTOBER 3, 2023
AN ACT
Providing for State aid requirement for libraries relating to
book removal and for prohibited removal of instructional
materials and voluntary inquiry materials in public school
entities.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Instructional materials." Textbooks and supplementary
materials used as part of required classroom instruction.
"Public school entity." A public school, including a school
district, charter school, intermediate unit or area career and
technical school.
"Voluntary inquiry materials." Nonfiction and fiction books,
magazines, reference books, supplementary titles, multimedia and
digital materials, software and instructional materials and
other materials not required as part of classroom instruction.
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Section 2. State aid requirement for libraries relating to book
removal.
(a) Requirement.--To receive State aid, a library subject to
24 Pa.C.S. Ch. 93 (relating to Public Library Code) or a school
library must:
(1) adopt the American Library Association's Library
Bill of Rights that indicates materials should not be
proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal
disapproval; or
(2) develop a written statement that prohibits the
library from banning books or other materials.
(b) Prohibition.--A municipality may not reduce funding for
a library due to the library's compliance with subsection (a).
Section 3. Prohibited removal of instructional materials and
voluntary inquiry materials in public school
entities.
Instructional materials and voluntary inquiry materials shall
not be removed from a library or classroom in a public school
entity due to any of the following reasons:
(1) Partisan approval or disapproval.
(2) The author's race, nationality, gender identity,
sexual orientation or political or religious views.
(3) School board of directors' or complainants'
discomfort, personal morality or political or religious
views.
(4) The author's points of view concerning the problems
and issues of our time, whether international, national or
local.
(5) The race, nationality, gender identity, sexual
orientation or political or religious views of the
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protagonist or other characters.
(6) Content that is relevant to the research,
independent reading interests and educational needs of older
students based on their age, development or grade level.
(7) Content related to sexual health that addresses
physical, mental, emotional and social dimensions of human
sexuality, including puberty, sex and relationships.
Section 4. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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