The Texas Senate voted on Monday in favor of a bill that would institute penalties for educators who engage in the “sale, distribution, or display of harmful material to [a] minor.”
While exposing minors to such materials is already technically a crime under Texas law, HB 4520, if enacted, would establish professional consequences. If convicted of the crime, educators would lose their teaching license and their retirement benefits, and they would be placed on a list that prevents them from being hired in Texas public schools.
Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine), who originally filed the bill in the Texas House, highlighted reports from parents across the state who allegedly discovered pornographic materials in school libraries and classrooms.
Having already been passed by the Texas House, HB 4520 is now headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the issue of public school libraries providing students access to books and graphic novels that contain sexually-explicit or “obscene” content has stirred controversy in North Texas, especially in Dallas ISD, where district community members and parents repeatedly voiced their concerns to unresponsive school board members.
The issue has also been controversial in Central Texas, where some community members claim that inappropriate library materials led to a student committing a sexual act on a Leander ISD campus.
“Another HUGE win for Texas kids! It’s time to clean up your act @RoundRockISD @HafedhAzaiez @LeanderISD @LeanderISD_Supt Your inaction led to this,” tweeted the Williamson County branch of Moms for Liberty, commenting on the Senate’s passage of HB 4520.
Detractors of the bill, however, claimed that the bill would essentially “criminalize” teachers and librarians.
“Horrifying. I think about a couple of parents who objected to books over the years. Wonder if this bill could be used retroactively to go after retired librarians who ordered certain titles now objected to,” tweeted Tina Sanders, a retired educator.
In a plea to Texas voters prior to the Senate passing the bill, a librarian organization called FReadom Fighters tweeted, “Just found out that HB4520 criminalizing educators and removing certification slipped past and is up for Senate hearing today at 4!!! Urgent! Call your Tx Senator!! Tell them not to criminalize librarians!”
