HB 2439
Initials CH Page 1 Caucus & COW
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-fifth Legislature
Second Regular Session
House: ED DPA 6-4-0-1
HB 2439: school library books; parental review
Sponsor: Representative Pingerelli, LD 21
Caucus & COW
Overview
Instructs a school district governing board (governing board) to approve all books in the school's
library. Establishes posting and review procedures for books being considered for school libraries.
History
Governing boards must have policies to promote the involvement of parents of children enrolled
within the school district. Statute dictates that these policies include procedures by which parents
may: 1) learn about the course of study for their children and review learning materials; 2)
withdraw their children from an activity or class if they object to any learning material or activity;
and 3) learn about parental rights and responsibilities (A.R.S. § 15-102).
For common schools and high schools, a governing board must approve the basic textbook for
each course before implementing the course. If a course does not include a basic textbook, the
governing board must approve all supplemental books used in the course. All meetings of
committees authorized for the purposes of textbook review and selection or approval must be
open to the public. A copy of each textbook must also be made available at the school district
office for public review for at least 60 days before the selection or approval of the textbook (A.R.S.
§§ 15-721, 15-722).
Provisions
1. Directs a governing board, in its policies to promote the involvement of parents, to include
procedures that:
a) Provide parents access to the school's library catalog of available books or materials; and
b) Allow parents to receive a list of books or materials borrowed from the library by their
children. (Sec. 1)
2. Requires a governing board to approve, for common schools and high schools, all books in
the school's library. (Sec. 2, 3)
3. Mandates a governing board:
a) Make available at the school district administrative office, for public review and for at least
60 days before purchase approval, a list of all books, by school site, being considered for
school libraries; and
b) Notify parents and the community at large of the opening and closing dates of the public
review periods for textbooks and books being considered for the school library by the most
expedient means possible. (Sec. 2, 3)
4. Instructs each school operated by the school district to, for a concurrent period of 60 days,
make available in the school office for public review a list of all books being requested for
purchase for the school library. (Sec. 2, 3)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note HB 2439
Initials CH Page 2 Caucus & COW
5. Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 1)
6. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 3)
Amendments
Committee on Education
1. Instructs a charter school governing body (governing body) to adopt procedures, in
consultation with parents, teachers and administrators, that:
a) Provide parents access to the charter school's library catalog of available books and
materials; and
b) Allow parents to receive a list of books and materials borrowed from the library by their
children.
2. Requires a governing body to approve all books in the charter school's library.
3. Mandates a governing body:
a) Make available at the charter school administrative office, for public review and for at least
60 days before purchase approval, a list of all books, by school site, being considered for
school libraries; and
b) Notify parents and the community at large of the opening and closing dates of the public
review periods for textbooks and books being considered for the school library by the most
expedient means possible.
4. Instructs each charter school site to, for a concurrent period of 60 days, make available in the
school office for public review a list of all books being requested for purchase for the school
library.