Amendment H.5489

This bill amends state laws to strengthen protections for student expression and establish a formal process for selecting and reviewing school library materials. It explicitly guarantees students the right to assemble on school property during hours and ensures that library materials chosen by professional librarians remain on shelves unless a school committee votes to remove them based on clear and convincing evidence that the items lack educational value or are not age-appropriate. The legislation also requires school districts to create written policies for library selection that align with professional standards, mandates annual reporting of challenges to these materials, and prevents librarians from facing disciplinary action for making selections that follow professional guidelines. Additionally, the bill updates language in related statutes to use gender-neutral terms and the title "chair" instead of "chairman."