Legislation to remove Arkansas Library Board passes in committee hearing
Senate Bill 536 received a do-pass recommendation in the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee. If the bill becomes law, it would turn over the duties and properties of the Arkansas State Library to the state's Department of Education.
Bill filed in legislature would abolish the Arkansas State Library, put controls on public libraries
The bill's primary sponsor and Senate state agencies committee member, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro), has been an outspoken critic of library policies on minors' access to certain materials. He had filed a law that would abolish the Arkansas Educational Television Network Board alongside the library board, but said in an earlier committee hearing that he had not advanced the bill after reaching an agreement with AETN.
With its committee passage, the bill will return to the Senate floor for a final vote. If it passes that vote, it will move to the House floor for a vote, then to the appropriate House committee for review, and if it receives a do-pass, return to the floor for a final vote. It will move to the governor's desk for signature into law if it clears these hurdles.
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