House Bill Would No Longer Exempt Schools For Allowing Obscene Materials In School Facilities

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The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

House Bill 1944, sponsored by Representative Scott Cepicky, and its companion Senate Bill 1944, sponsored by Senator Joey Hensley, would prohibit schools from making materials that are considered “obscene” or “harmful to minors” available to students in schools.

The bill would amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-902(e). The bill would exclude schools from exception to the current offenses for obscenity if those materials are in possession on school grounds or are available in school libraries. 

Obscene materials are defined as those that include descriptions or representations of nudity, sexual activities, excessive violence, sadomasochistic abuse, and sexual excitement.

Materials are considered “harmful to minors” under the code if they “would be found by the average person applying contemporary community standards to appeal predominantly to the prurient, shameful, or morbid interests of minors; is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable for minors; and taken as whole lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific values for minors. 

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Country artist John Rich spoke in favor of the bill before the Criminal Justice Subcommittee last week. He likened allowing these obscene materials in schools to predators who groom children. 

“What’s the difference between a teacher, educator, or librarian putting one of these books…on the desk of a student or a guy in a white van pulling up at the edge of school when school lets out and saying come on around kids let me read you this book and show you these pictures. What’s the difference in those two scenarios? There is a difference by the way. They can run away from the guy in the white van,” Rich stated.

He also stated that he believes there is “bonafied grooming taking place in Tennessee schools.”

The bill remains on the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee calendar for March 2^nd. 

Note from the Tennessee Conservative:  Just a reminder that many good Conservative bills die in subcommittees and committees before they ever see the light of day on the House or Senate floor.

If you support this bill, contact the subcommittee members in advance of their meeting.   The contact information for the Republican members (who hold the super-majority vote) can be found below.

House Criminal Justice Subcommittee – Republican Members:

Clay Doggett (chair) – rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7476

Michael Curcio – rep.michael.curcio@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3513

Andrew Farmer – rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4419

Bruce Griffey – rep.bruce.griffey@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6804

Dan Howell – rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7799

William Lamberth – rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1980

Debra Moody – rep.debra.moody@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3774

Lowell Russell – rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3736

Jerry Sexton – rep.jerry.sexton@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2534

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com