N.J. bill would defund libraries for restricting book access

Parents across the nation are working to remove pornographic books from their kids’ libraries, and the Media is predictably dismissing their efforts as “book bans.”

In New Jersey, far-Left Senator Teresa Ruiz introduced legislation this week which would go further in the opposite direction by preventing Garden State libraries from restricting inappropriate books… or else.

“This bill prohibits a governing body of any free public library, joint free public library, free county library, and free regional library from banning or restricting access to books or other resource materials because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval,” the bill’s statement explains. “Additionally, this bill requires the governing body of these public libraries to either adopt: 1) the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, which provides that books and materials “should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation,” or “because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval”; or 2) a policy prohibiting the banning or restricting access to a book or resource because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.”

The construction of the legislation is clearly designed to force local libraries to maintain sexually explicit books inappropriate for children over parental objections. “The Commissioner of Education is hereby authorized to withhold all or part of any State aid paid to any school district” not in compliance.

What’s next? S3893 has been referred to the Senate Education Committee for future consideration; there’s a companion bill in the Assembly (A5499), too, but hasn’t moved in the lower chamber to date.

Matt Rooney
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MATT ROONEY is SaveJersey.com's founder and editor-in-chief, a practicing New Jersey attorney, and the host of 'The Matt Rooney Show' on 1210 WPHT every Sunday evening from 7-10PM EST.