SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB1142 SFLR Page 1 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SENATE FLOOR VERSION March 1, 2022 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 1142 By: Standridge, Newhouse, and Allen An Act relating to schools; prohibiting c ertain schools and school libra ries from maintaining or promoting certain books; allowing a parent or legal guardian of a student to submit certain request to remove certain book; requiring within certain time period the removal of the book or submission of certain written explanation f or denying a request for removal; creating a cause of action for denying a request to remove a book ; allowing a court to make certain determination and grant certain injunctive relief; providing for codification; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 16-130 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. No public school district, public charter school, or public school library shall maintain in its inventory or promote books that make as their primary subject the study of sex, sexual lifestyles, or sexual activity, or books that are of a controversial nature that a reasonable parent or legal guardian would want to know of or approve of prior to their child being exposed to it. SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB1142 SFLR Page 2 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 B. 1. The parent or legal guardian of a student who believes a public school district, public charter school, or public school library is maintaining book(s) in violation of subsection A of this section may submit a written request to the school district superintendent or charter school administrator to remove the book(s) from the public school district, public charter schoo l, or public school library. 2. Within thirty (30) days of receiving a written request to remove a book, the school district superintendent or charter school administrator shall either remove the book from the public school district, public charter school, or public school library or submit to the parent or legal guardian a written explanation for denying the request. C. If a written request to remove a book is denied pursuant to paragraph 2 of subsection B of this section , a parent or legal guardian shall have a cause of action against a public school district or public charter school . If a court determines the book is of a nature that a reasonable parent or legal guardian would want to know of or approve of it prior to their child being exposed to it, the court may grant injunctive relief by ordering the removal of the book from the public school district, public charter school, or public school library. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2022. SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB1142 SFLR Page 3 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason wh ereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON EDUCATIO N March 1, 2022 - DO PASS AS AMENDED