ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: ED DPA 6-4-0-1 | 3rd Read 31-28-1-0

Senate: ED DP 5-3-0-0 | 3rd Read 16-12-2-0

HB 2439: school library books; parental review

NOW: school library; review; policy

Sponsor: Representative Pingerelli, LD 21

Senate Engrossed

Overview

Instructs a school district governing board (governing board) and charter school governing body (governing body) to approve all books in a school's library. Establishes public review and parental notification requirements for books approved for school libraries.

History

Governing boards must have policies to promote the involvement of parents of children enrolled within the school district. Statute dictates that these policies include procedures by which parents may: 1) learn about the course of study for their children and review learning materials; 2) withdraw their children from an activity or class if they object to any learning material or activity; and 3) learn about parental rights and responsibilities (A.R.S. § 15-102).

For common schools and high schools, a governing board must approve the basic textbook for each course before implementing the course. If a course does not include a basic textbook, the governing board must approve all supplemental books used in the course. All meetings of committees authorized for the purposes of textbook review and selection or approval must be open to the public. A copy of each textbook must also be made available at the school district office for public review for at least 60 days before the selection or approval of the textbook (A.R.S. §§ 15-721, 15-722).

Provisions

1.   ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteDirects a governing board and governing body to adopt procedures, in consultation with parents, teachers and administrators, that:

a)   Provides parents access to the school's library catalog of available books or materials; and

b)   Allows parents to receive a list of books or materials borrowed from the library by their children. (Sec. 1, 2)

2.   Requires a governing board and governing body to approve all books in the school's library. (Sec. 2, 3, 4)

3.   Mandates a governing board and governing body:

a)   Make available on the school district's or charter school's website, for public review and for at least 60 days after purchase approval, a list of all books purchased for any of the school libraries; and

b)   Ensure that each school notifies the parents of enrolled pupils of the opening and closing dates of the public review period within seven school days before the opening date. (Sec. 2, 3)

4.   Instructs each school operated by the school district or charter school site to, for public review and for at least 60 days after purchase approval, make available on the school's website a list of all books purchased for the school library. (Sec. 2, 3)

5.   Excludes the purchase of a book that is intended to replace a lost or damaged book from public review requirements. (Sec. 2, 3, 4)

6.   Exempts schools without a full-time library media specialist or an equivalent position from public review requirements. (Sec. 2, 3, 4)

7.   Exempts school district libraries that have agreements with county free library districts, municipal libraries, nonprofit and public libraries, tribal libraries, private schools and tribal schools from public review and parental notification requirements. (Sec. 3, 4)

8.   Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

9.   Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1, 3, 4)

Senate Amendments

1.   Revises the short title to reflect adopted amendments.  

2.   Removes the requirement that a governing board or governing body approve all books in a school's library.

3.   Requires a governing board or governing body to make available on the school district's or charter school's website a list of all books and materials purchased after January 1, 2023 for public review.

4.   Replaces references to school library catalog with school library collection.

5.   Delays, to January 1, 2023, the requirement that a governing board or governing board adopt procedures that:

a)   Provide parents access to a school's library collection of available books and materials; and

b)   Allow parents to receive a list of books and materials borrowed from the library by their children.

6.   ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteExcludes the following schools from governing board or governing body procedures regarding parental access to a school's library collection and list of borrowed books and materials:

a)   Schools without a full-time library media specialist or an equivalent position; and

b)   School district libraries that have agreements with county free library districts, municipal libraries, nonprofit and public libraries, tribal libraries, private schools and tribal schools.

7.   Includes, in the procedures by which parents may learn about parental rights and responsibilities a governing board must adopt, the right to public review of library books and materials.

8.   Specifies charter school sites and schools operated by school districts that do not have a full-time library media specialist or an equivalent position are exempt from parental notification requirements regarding the opening and closing dates of the required public review period.

 

 

 

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                        HB 2439

Initials CH       Page 0 Senate Engrossed

 

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