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2023 SESSION

23100713D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1379
Offered January 11, 2023
Prefiled November 4, 2022
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-207.2:1.1, relating to public elementary and secondary school libraries; catalog of printed and audiovisual materials; graphic sexual content; parental opt out and request for review.
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Patrons-- Anderson, LaRock, Scott, P.A., Avoli, Ballard, Brewer, Campbell, R.R., Cherry, Cordoza, Davis, Edmunds, Fariss, Fowler, Freitas, Greenhalgh, Head, March, Marshall, McGuire, McNamara, Robinson, Runion, Tata, Walker, Webert, Wiley, Wright and Wyatt
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Referred to Committee on Education
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-207.2:1.1 as follows:

§ 22.1-207.2:1.1. School libraries; catalog of printed and audiovisual materials; graphic sexual content; parental opt out and request for review.

A. As used in this section:

"Graphic sexual content" means any visual depiction of an actual or explicitly simulated act of masturbation, sexual intercourse, or physical contact in an act of apparent sexual stimulation or gratification with a person's clothed or unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or, if such be female, breast, that is contained in any printed or audiovisual material.

"Printed or audiovisual material" includes any video, film, or printed or digital book, graphic novel, cartoon, comic, pamphlet, magazine, newspaper, periodical, or other document that is composed of or includes animations, drawings, paintings, photographs, or other visual depictions.

B. The principal of each public elementary or secondary school or his designee shall:

1. Maintain in an electronic spreadsheet or a substantially similar electronic format a catalog of all printed and audiovisual materials contained in the school library;

2. Identify each item in such catalog by title, author, and such other identifying features or information as the principal or his designee deems appropriate;

3. Identify with a prominent notation in such catalog each item that contains graphic sexual content;

4. Make such catalog available to any parent of a student enrolled in the school;

5. Permit any parent of a student enrolled in the school to restrict his child's access to any item in such catalog that is identified as containing graphic sexual content pursuant to subdivision 3; and

6. Permit any parent of a student enrolled in the school to request a graphic sexual content notation for any item in such catalog that is not so identified.