Tennessee Representatives Pass Bill To Ban Obscene Materials From Schools

Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

The Tennessee House of Representatives has passed a bill (HB1944) that would prohibit schools from allowing students to have access to materials that are considered “obscene” or “harmful to minors.”

After a brief introduction of the bill, Representative Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka-District 64) moved to pass the bill on its third consideration. 

Representatives continued with a time of debate in which several Democratic legislators questioned the bill’s intent.

Representative John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville-District 55) recommended an amendment that would protect librarians and school employees from repercussions related to the removal of these materials. He stated that the amendment “makes clear that the material is the intent here and the focus of this legislation, not the hardworking school librarians and public employees who are simply doing their job.”

Cepicky objected, stating that the amendment “changes the intent of the bill.” He made a motion to move the amendment to the table, and the motion passed with 63 ayes and 26 nays.

The House then passed an amendment that would remove the exception for obscene materials in educational institutions and added language that would require that local school systems create a policy that would allow for parental objections to materials as well as a determination made by school boards as to whether the material was allowable or not and would require that local districts report annually on those reports.

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Representative Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville-District 13) argued, “Here we are limiting speech while we’re talking about removing books from the library.”

Several representatives questioned what definition of “obscene” would be used, and Cepicky responded that this was already defined in Tennessee Code. Some also asked who would be responsible for determining what materials met that definition.

While Cepicky stated that all of those decisions would be left up to local school systems and no state mandate would be made, Representative Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville-District 15) argued that “having a floating definition of a term is going to create all kinds of issues and lawsuits.”

One lone Republican representative spoke out in opposition of the bill. 

Representative Eddie Mannis (R-Knoxville-District 18) said, “I’ve been in turmoil over this one…if we vote yes we will be perceived as perverts and that we condone pornographic materials in our schools and if we vote no we’ll be perceived by educators that we don’t trust them.”

Cepicky clarified that Mannis was backwards on those votes, with a yes vote being in favor of placing the ban on obscene materials and a no vote leaning towards the rights of school employees to make the decisions to keep those materials.

After all discussion and debate was wrapped up, a vote was taken. The bill was passed with 63 representatives voting in favor of the bill and 24 voting against it, one of those nays being Mannis.

The companion Senate Bill 1944 is scheduled for the Senate Education Committee’s calendar on March 29th.

If you support this legislation, contact the Republican members of the Senate Education Committee.

Senate Education Committee

Jon Lundberg (Acting Chair) (R)– sen.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-5761

Mike Bell (R)– sen.mike.bell@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1946

Rusty Crowe (R)– sen.rusty.crowe@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2468

Ferrell Haile (R)– sen.ferrell.haile@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1999

Joey Hensley (R)– sen.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3100

Brian Kelsey (R)– sen.brian.kelsey@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3036

Bill Powers (R)– sen.bill.powers@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2374

Dawn White (R)– sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6853

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