COLUMBUS, Ohio — A controversial bill has been introduced into the Ohio legislature that could potentially defund public libraries if they distribute materials deemed “harmful to juveniles.”
The bill, introduced by Republican lawmaker Al Cutrona, proposes to prohibit libraries from distributing certain materials to individuals under the age of 18 without parental or guardian consent. The bill aims to identify materials that are “harmful to juveniles,” and libraries that continue to distribute such materials to minors without parental permission risk losing state funding.
“This legislation protects Ohio’s minors and supports the authority of parents to have a say in what their children are consuming,” said Cutrona.
However, the bill has sparked debate across the state, with critics arguing that it gives the government too much power in determining what is suitable for children. This stance is seen as contradictory, as conservatives typically oppose government overreach.
The potential impact of the bill is significant, as most libraries rely on taxpayer and government funding. In the digital age, many public libraries already struggle to maintain their budgets. The proposed bill adds another layer of concern for Ohio’s struggling public libraries.