READER Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "RESTRICTING EXPLICIT AND ADULT-DESIGNATED EDUCATION RESOURCES (READER) ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 59-31-5 SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS; BY ADDING SECTION 59-31-15 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY COLLECTION STANDARDS THAT PROHIBIT THE ACQUISITION OR RETENTION OF MATERIALS THAT ARE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT OR HARMFUL TO CHILDREN, TO MAKE THE ACQUISITION AND RETENTION OF SEXUALLY RELEVANT MATERIALS DISCRETIONARY FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL BOOK VENDORS, THE STATE LIBRARY, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY ADDING SECTION 59-31-47 SO AS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL NOT PROVIDE STUDENTS ACCESS TO SEXUALLY RELEVANT MATERIALS WITHOUT WRITTEN PARENTAL CONSENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-31-10, RELATING TO THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE LIBRARY BOARD SHALL, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, DEVELOP CERTAIN MANDATORY STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT, TO PROVIDE THE STATE LIBRARY BOARD SHALL CONSULT WITH THE COMMITTEE TO ADOPT VOLUNTARY STANDARDS FOR OTHER SCHOOL LIBRARY SERVICES, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PERIODIC REVIEW AND UPDATE OF SUCH STANDARDS; TO PROVIDE DATES BY WHICH CERTAIN INITIAL REVIEW AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT MUST OCCUR; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 59-31-45 RELATING TO THE SELECTION OF TEXTBOOKS.