Education (Libraries)

SB 964 creates a "Safe Library Books for Kids Committee" within West Virginia's Department of Tourism. The committee, appointed by the Governor, must review all children's and teen books in public libraries to establish age-appropriate ratings. It will start with youngest readers' books and move up, requiring libraries to place books only in sections matching their rating - unrated books cannot be in children's or teen sections. Violating this rule carries a $500 misdemeanor fine per occurrence. The bill directly affects public libraries and their children's/teen book collections.