Create criminal liability for teachers for pandering obscenity

HB 556 amends state law to establish criminal liability for teachers and school librarians who knowingly create, promote, or distribute obscene material. The bill specifically targets educators and librarians by removing their current exemptions from obscenity charges, while still allowing them to defend themselves if the material was used for legitimate educational or scientific purposes. Under this legislation, violating these provisions is classified as a fifth-degree felony, which becomes a fourth-degree felony if the individual has a prior conviction for the same offense. The law also includes protections for other professionals, such as health and biology teachers, and clarifies rules regarding internet content and employer responsibilities.