HB 1373 - AS INTRODUCED
2024 SESSION
24-2454
02/10
HOUSE BILL 1373
AN ACT relative to the establishment of library collection development policies.
SPONSORS: Rep. Germana, Ches. 1; Rep. Brennan, Merr. 9; Rep. Meuse, Rock. 37; Rep. Telerski, Hills. 11; Rep. Horrigan, Straf. 10; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21
COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires public libraries to adopt policies for collection development, library displays, materials reconsideration, and maintaining a harassment-free workplace.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2454
02/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT relative to the establishment of library collection development policies.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Declaration of Policy. Amend RSA 202-A:1 to read as follows:
202-A:1 Declaration of Policy. Mindful that, as the constitution declares, "knowledge and learning, generally diffused through a community" are "essential to the preservation of a free government; and spreading the opportunities and advantages of education through the various parts of the country being conducive to this end," the legislature recognizes its duty to encourage the people of New Hampshire to extend their education during and beyond the years of formal education. To this end, it hereby declares that the public library is a valuable supplement to the formal system of free public education and as such deserves adequate financial support from government at all levels.
Mindful, also, that the constitution declares, “the freedom of deliberation, speech, and debate” to be “essential to the rights of the people,” the legislature recognizes that informed citizenship and the free exchange of ideas are essential to the preservation of liberties in a free government and that public access to materials and information in public libraries shall not be proscribed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
2 New Paragraph; Powers and Duties. Amend RSA 202-A:11 by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph:
VI. Establish and maintain policies that are written in substantial compliance with the aims and goals of the New Hampshire law against discrimination RSA 354-A:1, including prohibitions on discrimination based on age, sex, gender, identity, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, national origin, or sexual orientation. All policies shall be consistent with professional standards and all deliberations based thereon shall not be determined or proscribed for partisan or doctrinal reasons. All policies shall be available to the public upon request at all times.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Dec. 6, 2023: To Be Introduced 01/03/2024 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 1