| 33 | | - | In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall survey each of the 135 school divisions in the Commonwealth to identify (i) which school divisions removed any books from a library in any of its public schools on the basis of certain content contained therein after July 1, 2020; (ii) for each removed book identified pursuant to clause (i): (a) the title, author, and any other identifying information; (b) the fiscal year of removal; (c) the name of the school from whose library such book was removed; (d) whether it was removed upon the recommendation of a "challenge committee" and, if not, whether it was removed at the direction of the school board or one or more school board members, a school principal, a division superintendent, or another school administrator; (e) how the review was initiated, the role of the school's librarian or media specialist in the removal process, and which, if any, other school board employees were involved in the removal process and the role each individual played; and (f) if 22.1-16.8 of the Code of Virginia or a policy adopted in accordance therewith was used to justify such removal; (iii) which school divisions have appointed a committee or other body to review the content of books currently contained in or proposed book purchases for inclusion in public school libraries and, if so, whether (a) such committee or body includes a [ school ] librarian or media specialist employed by the school division and (b) the meetings of such committee or body are advertised and open to the public; and (iv) in consultation with any relevant state agencies, what resources are available at the state level to support school administrators in making decisions relating to the removal of books from public school libraries. |
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| 33 | + | In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) shall survey all 132 school divisions in the Commonwealth of Virginia to identify (i) which school divisions removed books from any of its school libraries between July 1, 2020, and December 31, 2024; (ii) for each book removed: (a) the title and author, (b) the fiscal year removed, (c) the name of the school from which the book was removed, (d) whether it was removed upon recommendation of a challenge committee, a librarian, or a media specialist or at the direction of the school board or one or more members of such school board, or a school principal, a superintendent, or another school administrator, (e) how the review was initiated, the role of the school's librarian or media specialist, and which other school division employees were involved, if any, and the role such employees played in the removal process, and (g) if 22.1-16.8 of the Code of Virginia or a policy adopted pursuant to such section was used to justify the removal of the book; and (iii) which school divisions have appointed a challenge committee to review the content of current library books or proposed school library book purchases, and if so, whether the committee includes a school librarian or media specialist employed by the school division and whether the committee meetings are advertised and open to the public. Additionally, JLARC shall contact all relevant state agencies to determine what resources exist at the state level to support school administrators in these decisions. |
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