From Statehouse News Service via NBC Boston:

The Massachusetts Legislature on Friday sent to Gov. Maura Healey’s desk legislation that establishes guidelines for how schools and public libraries make decisions about the availability and appropriateness of books.

“Together we are setting forth a bill to protect free expression and intellectual curiosity and every person’s right to free expression. Massachusetts has long been a national leader in education and learning. We are home to the nation’s first public library and first public school. In this commonwealth, we have long appreciated that unabridged access to knowledge is a key to finding opportunity and fulfillment,” Sen. Julian Cyr said during Thursday’s Senate session when the chamber advanced the legislation. “This legislation builds on that proud longstanding tradition by ensuring that decisions about library collections are made by trained professionals through a transparent process, not by political pressure or intimidation.”

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Under the bill, materials can only be removed from a school library after a vote by the school committee, or board of trustees if it’s a charter school. Before that vote, there must be a public hearing and determination from a review committee that the material “taken as a whole, based on clear and convincing evidence” does not have any educational, literary, artistic, personal or social value or is not age appropriate. Only school employees, parents or guardians or students enrolled in the school can lodge challenges. Students, parents and guardians may also appeal a decision to remove materials from the library to court.

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