HF 1949

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/17/2015 11:36am

A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring a school board to publicly inform parents of a
decision to keep available instructional materials a parent considers harmful to
minors; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.20.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.20, is amended to read:

120B.20 PARENTAL CURRICULUM REVIEW.

new text begin (a) new text end Each school district shall have a procedure for a parent, guardian, or an adult
student, 18 years of age or older, to review the content of the instructional materials new text begin
in a school library, media center, or classroom new text end to be provided to a minor child or to an
adult student and, if the parent, guardian, or adult student objects to the content, to make
reasonable arrangements with school personnel for alternative instruction. Alternative
instruction may be provided by the parent, guardian, or adult student if the alternative
instruction, if any, offered by the school board does not meet the concerns of the parent,
guardian, or adult student. The school board is not required to pay for the costs of
alternative instruction provided by a parent, guardian, or adult student. School personnel
may not impose an academic or other penalty upon a student merely for arranging
alternative instruction under this section. School personnel may evaluate and assess the
quality of the student's work.

new text begin (b) If a parent, guardian, or an adult student reviewing the content of instructional
materials under paragraph (a) objects to the content and notifies district personnel that the
person considers the content sexually explicit or obscene and therefore harmful to minors,
and the district continues to make the instructional materials available to students after
receiving the parent's notice, the school board of the school district must explain on the
district Web site and at the next regularly scheduled school board meeting why the district
continues to make the instructional materials available to students. The name of and other
personally identifiable data on the parent, guardian, or adult student who reviewed the
content and considers it sexually explicit or obscene and therefore harmful to minors is
private data on individuals as defined in section 13.02, subdivision 12.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end