CITY COUNCIL REGULAR AGENDA PACKET

library and its resources shall not be denied or abridged solely because of personal characteristics, age, background, or views. The bill would prohibit a librarian, library media specialist, other employee, or contractor at a public library from being subject to termination, demotion, discipline, or retaliation for (1) refusing to remove a library material before it has been reviewed in accordance with the public library’s process for reconsideration of library materials or (2) making displays, acquisitions, or programming decisions that the employee believes, in good faith, are in accordance with the bill’s provisions. The bill would provide that these provisions apply to a public library, as deﬁned, including any public library operated on a contractual basis, or operated by a city, including a general law or charter city, county, special district, or joint powers authority, except that these provisions do not apply to any school library, as deﬁned, or any library operated by the governing board of a school district, a county board of education, or the governing body of a charter school. To the extent these provisions impose additional duties on public libraries, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. The bill would include ﬁndings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 19800) is added to Part 11 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code, to read: Chapter 10. California Freedom to Read Act 19800. This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the California Freedom to Read Act. 19801. The Legislature ﬁnds and declares all of the following: (a) Libraries are essential for information, education, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. (b) Libraries provide access to books that offer teachable moments for readers of all ages and expand our understanding of people with different backgrounds, ideas, and beliefs. (c) A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged solely because of personal characteristics, age, background, or views. 90 —2 — Ch. 941 Page 144 of 376