A Georgia bill that would open librarians up to criminal charges for allowing minors to access “explicit” content remains the subject of intense debate at the State Capitol with just two weeks left in this year’s legislative session.
A dozen parents, media specialists and advocates spoke before state lawmakers of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee Wednesday to both praise and criticize Senate Bill 74.
Under Georgia law, it is a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature to allow minors to access explicit or harmful content. The law defines explicit or harmful content using the Miller Test, the U.S. Supreme Court’s guidelines for determining what content is obscene and therefore not protected by the First Amendment. SB 74 would eliminate an exemption in that law for public and school libraries.
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