Protecting Children From Sexually Explicit Content
There are Arkansas laws that protect families from having their children being exposed to sexual content. Arkansas law allows parents to opt out their child from instruction or programs on gender identity and sexual orientation. Under the LEARNS Act, recently signed by Governor Sarah Sanders, schools are prohibited from providing classroom instruction in the fifth grade or below on: (1) Sexually explicit materials; (2) Sexual reproduction; (3) Sexual intercourse; (4) Gender identity; or (5) Sexual orientation.
Unfortunately, schools have found a huge loophole to these laws which allows them to sexualize young children despite opposition by parents. The loophole is that library materials are not restricted, which means some schools provide sexually explicit and pornographic material to school children through the school library.
Arkansas also has an obscenity law which penalizes those who provide obscene material to children. Unfortunately, one of the exemptions to the obscenity law says schools and libraries are exempt from prosecution for providing such obscene material to children. That exemption has been exploited to expose children to more and more pornography.
Despite Arkansas taking big steps to protect children, these loopholes are big too, and are being used by adults who want to sexualize children.
Senator Dan Sullivan’s SB81 seeks to close these loopholes. SB81 would remove the exemption for librarians who provide obscene material to minors. It would require libraries to adopt standards for the challenge of library materials. The bill also gives parents access to their children’s library records.
The Arkansas Senate overwhelmingly approved SB81. The bill was then approved by the House Judiciary Committee, after an amendment. SB81 will now be considered by the full House of Representatives.
Representatives have heard from people who oppose the bill. They need to hear from people who support it. Take a look at SB81 and then contact your state Representative.
1 A.C.A. 6-16-1006
2 Act 237 of 2023
