Amendment to tighten restrictions on libraries fails in committee
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A bill to restrict library policies failed in Tuesday's 95th General Assembly's Special Language Subcommittee of the Joint Budget Committee.
The amendment was written to prevent any library receiving state funding from affiliating with the American Library Association (ALS). Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro), the amendment's sponsor, said it was to disengage from an association that would not keep harmful material from minors.
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Sullivan pointed out to the subcommittee that the ALS policy is often referenced in library policies regarding access to material, meaning actual membership in the ALS was not required and no restrictions were placed on access to any library material.
'You would be a [ALS] member if you agreed with their material,' he said.
Senators questioned Sullivan about the bill's language, focusing on its broadness.
Sen. Jimmy Hickey (R-Texarkansa) pointed out that if a librarian wrote a memo disassociating the library from the ALS, it would fit in the bill's description of 'association' with the organization and a reason to defund that library.
Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Searcy) said he had received calls from constituents concerned about the bill's broadness.
The bill failed in a voice vote.
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Sullivan had filed Senate Bill 184 earlier in the session in order to transfer the Arkansas Educational Television Commission and the Arkansas Library Board to the Department of Education. He told the subcommittee that the bill was withdrawn after the television commission 'agreed to make some changes.'
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