Five proposed bills aimed at public libraries and public school libraries, some of which could lead to fines and jail time for librarians, are scheduled to be heard this week by state House committees.
The education committee, meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, is scheduled to hear House Bill 168 by state Rep. Josh Carlson, R-Lafayette, that would remove a requirement that library directors have a master's degree in library science.
In March, at the request of some on the House Municipal, Parochial and Culture Affairs Committee, Carlson voluntarily deferred the bill, but had it transferred to the House Education Committee, on which he serves.
Amendments to Carlson's bill would allow library boards of control to establish qualifications for library director. Each board may adopt qualifications that do not require a library director to have a certificate or permit from the State Board of Library Examiners.
A master’s degree of library science from an ALA accredited library school is one of the requirements for receiving certification from the State Board of Library Examiners.
At 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, the House Criminal Justice Committee is expected to consider another Carlson proposal. As originally proposed, House Bill 414 would have subjected libraries and librarians to obscenity laws, Louisiana Revised Statute 14:016.
Changes to the proposed bill would instead amend Louisiana Revised Statute 14:91.11 which refers to "public morals" and the sale, exhibition, or distribution of material harmful to minors, adding public libraries to newsstands and other commercial establishments that are restricted.
Carlson's revised bill would prohibit in public libraries "depictions of illicit sex or sexual immorality," including the "depiction, display, description, exhibition or representation" of "masturbation, excretory functions, or exhibition, actual, simulated, or animated, of the genitals, pubic hair, anus, vulva, or female breast nipples."
The restriction would apply to material taken as a whole that lacks "serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors."
A bill by state Rep. Beryl Amedée, R-Gray, similar to Carlson's original bill regarding obscenity, would subject K-12 public schools and librarians to obscenity laws. The House criminal justice committee voted 8-4 in favor of the bill April 17. The full House on Monday, at Amedée's request, re-scheduled the bill to be heard April 29.
On Thursday, the House Municipal and Parochial Affairs Committee is scheduled to consider three proposed bills dealing with libraries. The committee meeting is scheduled to begin once the House meeting adjourns.
State Rep. Jay Galle, R-Mandeville, has two bills pending that are similar. Both HB 640 and HB 946 would allow appointing authorities to remove library boards and board members without cause.
House Bill 777, by Rep. Kellee Dickerson, R-Denham Springs, would prohibit libraries, librarians and any public official from spending public funds with the American Library Association. Violators could face a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment, with or without hard labor, for up to two years or both.
Under Dickerson's bill, public librarians who request reimbursement for taking continuing education classes through the American Library Association could face harsher penalties than someone who commits aggravated assault.
The ALA, which provides much of the training for librarians, has been under attack by conservatives who say the nonprofit group's policies support exposing children to porn and whose president is a self-described Marxist.
Wednesday
House education committee, 9 a.m.:
- HB 168, Rep. Josh Carlson, drops master of library science degree for library directors.
House criminal justice committee, 9:30 a.m.:
- HB 414, Rep. Josh Carlson, applies obscenity laws to public libraries in Louisiana.
Thursday
Municipal and parochial affairs committee, starts after House adjourns:
- HB 640, Rep. Jay Galle, addresses library boards, including allowing appointing authorities to remove boards and board members without cause.
- HB 777, Rep. Kellee Dickerson, prohibits spending public funds with the American Library Association.
- HB 946, Rep. Jay Galle, allows appointing authorities to remove library boards and members without cause.