Senator Rosalicie Ochoa-Boa (R, Distr. 23) has introduced a bill to get the most harmful materials out of children’s hands.
Senate Bill 1435 will require school boards to exclude from schools and school libraries for preschool to 8th grade students “all books, publications, or papers that contain “harmful matter” on or before July 31, 2024. “Harmful matter” is defined in Penal Code section 313 as “matter, taken as a whole, which to the average person, applying contemporary statewide standards, appeals to the prurient interest, and is matter which, taken as a whole, depicts or describes in a patently offensive way sexual conduct and which, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.”
The bill will also authorize a parent, guardian, or resident of a school district to commence a civil action (lawsuit) against any board that fails to remove any harmful matter requested of it by July 31.
Please leave voicemails for the 6 Senators listed, below, to implore them to vote “YES” on #SB1435.
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Josh Newman – 916-651-4029; Kordell.Hampton@sen.ca.gov, jacqueline.Anapolsky@sen.ca.gov
Dave Cortese – 916-651-4015; Ashonte.Smith@sen.ca.gov
Steve Glazer – 916-651-4007; Noah.Bilyeu@sen.ca.gov
Lena Gonzalez – 916-651-4033 ; Trevor.Taylor@sen.ca.gov
Lola Smallwood-Cuevas – 916-651-4028 ; Jasmine.Prasad@sen.ca.gov
Scott Wilk – 916-651-4021 ; Connor.Sloan@sen.ca.gov
SAMPLE SCRIPT 📝
“Hi! My name is NAME. [If you are a constituent, mention that you are and your ZIP. If you are part of a group, mention group and brief description]. I support SB1435 getting “harmful matters” and obscene materials out of elementary schools. Please tell the representative to vote “YES” on SB1435.”
PLEASE ATTEND THE HEARING ON THE BILL
In Person: Wednesday, April 17, 9 a.m., 1021 O Street, Room 2100
There will be no teleconference service for this hearing.