103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB1812

 

Introduced 2/9/2023, by Sen. Mike Simmons

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
50 ILCS 105/4.2 new

    Amends the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act. Provides that a public officer, employee, board, or representative of a governmental unit may not ban or otherwise prohibit a book from being available for reading or circulation by members of the public in a library, school, or other publicly funded facility. Provides that the provisions do not restrict the ability to limit books in schools or in another publicly funded facility based upon the age and development level of persons who will have access to those books. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers.


LRB103 28287 AWJ 54666 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1812LRB103 28287 AWJ 54666 b

1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act is
5amended by adding Section 4.2 as follows:
 
6    (50 ILCS 105/4.2 new)
7    Sec. 4.2. Book banning prohibited.
8    (a) As used in this Section, "governmental unit" means a
9unit of local government or school district.
10    (b) A public officer, employee, board, or other
11representative of a governmental unit may not ban or otherwise
12prohibit a book from being available for reading or
13circulation by members of the public in a library, school, or
14other publicly funded facility.
15    (c) This Section does not restrict the ability to limit
16books in schools or another publicly funded facility based
17upon the age and development level of persons who will have
18access to those books.
19    (d) A home rule unit may not regulate books in a manner
20inconsistent with this Section. This Section is a limitation
21under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the
22Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule
23units of powers and functions exercised by the State.