Freedom to Read Rhode Island has PASSED!
Cathy G. Johnson
The Freedom to Read legislation has passed in the state of Rhode Island! Back in March I had the pleasure of speaking at a press conference in support of passing the bill, you can read that blog post here.
Information on the bill from The Author’s Guild:
The Freedom to Read Act establishes vital safeguards that will:
Protect authors’ rights: Authors, publishers, and booksellers now have the right to sue government entities that engage in censorship, with potential damages of up to $5,000 per censored work .
Shield library professionals: Librarians and educators receive immunity from civil and criminal liability for good-faith actions performed in their professional duties.
Establish clear standards: The law prohibits censoring materials based solely on the origin, background, or views of the author, consistent with longstanding Supreme Court precedent.
Ensure due process: Professional standards and clear procedures replace vague and arbitrary removal decisions.
Cited from https://authorsguild.org/news/ag-celebrates-rhode-island-freedom-to-read-act/