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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2022-037 Opposing Senate Bill 1300 and House Bill 1467 (Censorship of Materials in Schools)RESOLUTION NO.2022-037 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA, OPPOSING SENATE BILL 1300 AND HOUSE BILL 1467 IN THE 2022 FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION, URGING ALL MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS TO OPPOSE SENATE BILL 1300 AND HOUSE BILL 1467 WHICH, IF ENACTED, WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE ADOPTION OF DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD PROCEDURES FOR DEVELOPING LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER COLLECTIONS, WHICH PROCEDURES WOULD INCLUDE PROVIDING FOR THE REGULAR REMOVAL OR DISCONTINUANCE OF BOOKS BASED ON, AT A MINIMUM, PHYSICAL CONDITION, RATE OF RECENT CIRCULATION, ALIGNMENT TO STATE ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND RELEVANCY TO CURRICULUM, OUT- OF-DATE CONTENT, AND REQUIRED REMOVAL PURSUANT TO A POLICY REGARDING AN OBJECTION BY A PARENT OR A RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY TO THE USE OF A SPECIFIC MATERIAL, AND PROVIDING FOR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTION TO THE CITY'S STATE LOBBYISTS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; FURTHER, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1300 and House Bill 1467 in the 2022 Florida Legislative Session provide for the adoption of district school board procedures for developing library media center collections, which procedures include providing for the regular removal or discontinuance of books based on, at a minimum, physical condition, rate of recent circulation, alignment to state academic standards and relevancy to curriculum, out-of-date content, and required removal pursuant to a policy regarding an objection by a parent or a resident of the county to the use of a specific material, which clearly describes a process to handle all objections and provides for resolution; and WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1300 and House Bill 1467 in the 2022 Florida Legislative Session would allow for censorship of materials in schools without any specific guidelines of what is considered appropriate other than the subjective ruling of a committee; and WHEREAS, according to the American Library Association ("ALA"), more than 330 unique cases of library book challenges were reported to the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom in the three-month period between September 1 and November 30, 2021, and, thus far, challenge totals in 2021 have doubled the number of reports from 2020 (156 challenges) and most likely will outpace 2019 figures (377 challenges); NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA: Section 1. That the above "Whereas" clauses are ratified and confirmed, and they are made a part of and incorporated into this Resolution by this reference. Section 2. That the City Commission of the City of Dania Beach, Florida, opposes Senate Bill 1300 and House Bill 1467 in the 2022 Florida Legislative Session, and urges all members of the Florida Legislature and Governor Ron DeSantis to oppose Senate Bill 1300 and House Bill 1467. Section 3. That the City Commission directs the City Clerk to transmit copies of this Resolution to the City's state lobbyists, Governor Ron DeSantis, Senate President Wilton Simpson, Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls, the Broward League of Cities, the Florida League of Cities, the Broward County Legislative Delegation, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, and any other interested parties. Section 4. That the City Commission directs the City's state lobbyists to advocate against Senate Bill 1300 and House Bill 1467 in the 2022 Florida Legislative Session. Section 5. That all resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict with this Resolution are repealed to the extent of such conflict. Section 6. That this Resolution shall become effective upon its passage and adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED on March 8, 2022. ATTEST: THOMAS SCHNEIDER, CMC CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO FORM AND EV/EA. BO SIS CI ATTORNEY 2 RESOLUTION #2022-037