Thread by @ForARPeople1

Good morning, Arkansas! At 10am Senate Judiciary will hear SB81, the library book ban bill.

You can follow along on this thread or stream it live here:
#arpx #arleg

sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00284/Harmony/…

Context: Sen. Dan Sullivan was behind the Craighead Co. ballot petition that slashed the library's budget in half — all b/c the library had a table with a PRIDE display: #arpx #arleg kait8.com/2022/09/29/sen…

Sen. Sullivan now brings his library crusade to the Senate. SB81 would make it illegal for libraries to post "obscene material" or distribute library materials that are "harmful" to minors. #arpx #arleg arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/FTPDocum…

This is not unique to Arkansas; it's happening across the country as extremists look to shore up political power through culture war issues: #arpx #arleg pen.org/report/banned-…

Some helpful book ban infographs via Pen America: #arpx #arleg

But first, Sen. Stubblefield amends his punitive "strict liability" for trans healthcare bill. He wants to reduce the statute of limitations. #arpx #arleg

And right out of the gate, Sen. Flowers grills Stubblefield on his amendment and the bill itself. Members of public have signed up to speak on the bill, SB199 (linking our post about it for your info) #arpx #arleg forarpeople.org/senate-judicia…

Motion to limit debate to 5 minute for both for/against SB199. Flowers notes that there is a lot of citizens there to speak and doesn't like to limit their voice. Stubblefield says most ppl are here for library bill. "Did you canvass these people?" -Flowers 😂#arpx #arleg

Motion carries. Those speaking for/against SB199 (medical liability bill) will have 5 minutes. #arpx #arleg

Allison Grigsby Sweatman, mental health professional, speaks against SB199. She says there are ample data that trans medical procedures help mitigate negative mental health consequences, specifically suicide. #arpx #arleg

Stubblefield rebuts, citing a Swedish study, which he has referenced before. #arpx #arleg

Toni (sp?) Rose speaks for, citing same Swedish report. If anyone has a link to this report, please comment or retweet with it b/c we have not seen it. #arpx #arleg

Ms. Rose urges Sen. Stubblefield to not lower the statute of liability any more. His amendment lowers it from 30 years post-procedure to 15 years. #arpx #arleg

Rev. Marie Mainard O'Connell speaks against bill, says it does not address safe harbor law; takes issue with conditions to receive these procedures saying her child may not be able to receive treatment under this bill. "Why is autism and ADHD listed in this bill?" #arpx #arleg

Sen. Stubblefield does not address the Reverend's questions about why particular disorders are listed as disqualification for gender-affirming treatment. #arpx #arleg

Stubblefield moves to adopt amendment. Bill passes as amended. Time for library shenanigans. #arpx #arleg

Sullivan has an amendment, couple of semantic changes that, according to Sullivan, lowers the threshold for which one may be accused of violating the law. Sen. Hester corrects him and says no, it raises the threshold and Sen. Sullivan agrees. oh my word, yall #arpx #arleg

Sen. Flowers asks Sullivan to define "licensed personnel." Stubblefield says that's "up to the schools." #arpx #arleg

Sen. Gilmore is carrying water for Sullivan right now, arguing why the bill is ready to run right now with this particular amendment. #arpx #arleg

*could have been Sen. Gilmore who corrected him, not Sen. Hester.

A complaint process for illegal distribution of library materials: complaint ➡️ committee board ➡️ school board

Context: #arleg wants school boards to be politicized

#arpx #arleg

Amendment adopted. 23 members of public signed up to speak. Sen. Stubblefield tells Sen. Flowers he doesn't' need her help. Motion to limit testimony to 2 minutes per person. Feeling tense, yall. #arpx #arleg

county or municipal complaint process for illegal distribution of library materials: complaint ➡️ committee board ➡️ quorum court/city council

Context: #arleg wants local races to be politicized #arpx

Sullivan: the goal is to end with elected officials 🎯

you can always count on Sen. Sullivan to say what he means #arpx #arleg

There is a reason non-partisan officials are tasked with adjudication in our country: people deserve unbiased, non-politicized consideration of the facts. That is not what this bill does. #arpx #arleg

Sullivan says American Library Association policy that protects viewing of material is wrong, says AR needs code to "protect our children."

#arpx #arleg

Sen. Tucker: have you had a complaint about museums?

Sullivan: I have not heard that compliant

#arpx #arleg

Tucker: the Miller Test is what we use to define obscenity

Sullivan: I'm not an attorney and do not want to get into a legal debate

Tucker: I want to establish what the criteria for obscene material are

#arpx #arleg

Tucker's questions are perplexing Sullivan. #arpx #arleg

Tucker: who is determining what’s obscene?

Sullivan: the prosecutor

Tucker: so not the judge?

#arpx #arleg

Tucker: before I vote on this, I want to know what the terms and elements of obscenity crimes are. As the bill sponsor, do you know if the elements of these crimes are a judicial determination of obscenity or some other determination? #arpx #arleg

Sullivan: we're just adding libraries to our established obscenity law. Librarians do not get a "get out of jail free" card. #arpx #arleg

💭 For AR People aside: Sen. Tucker getting into the weed of the language is important b/c even a single word can dramatically impact the interpretation of a law. Languages REALLY matters for code and policy, esp for legal liability. #arpx #arleg

Sen Sullivan: "I don't want to micromanage libraries..."

The crowd responds with laughter. #arpx #arleg

Sullivan (non lawyer) to Tucker (lawyer) re: particular language: There are just some things we disagree on #arpx #arleg

Tucker: did you consider the appeal process going to a judge or court instead of an elected official?

Sullivan: that's what a prosecutor would do.

Tucker: so you mean the appeal process is a civil process? and make their challenge to ppl who may not have legal training?

Sullivan in response: I've considered everything in this bill

Tucker: why did you select school boards and quorum courts rather than the court of law? #arpx #arleg

Sullivan: that's what I thought was best b/c I don't want to criminalize people over this at the local level

#arpx #arleg

Sen. Tucker said he’s concerned about kids in bad home situations. What happens when a young teen checks out a book related to abuse, & what happens when a child is abused because of a book they’ve read. #arpx #arleg

Sullivan says he will address that issue when it happens… it’s not about helping kids, and it never has been. #arpx #arleg

*weeds 😂😅

“We’ll give you you’re freedom as long as you follow these rules.” -Dan Sullivan, who doesn’t seem to understand the term “freedom”

#arpx #arleg

Sen. Flowers has made a motion to recess until Wednesday to give the public a chance to speak.

Discussion of not wanting to delay the bill is being had. Members of the committee say the public should be grateful to any amount of time given to speak. #arleg #arpx

Substitute motion has been made to limit debate to 1 minute per person. Again, that’s limiting public testimony to 1 minute. Time limits not put on #arleg members #arpx

The #arleg doesn’t want to hear from you. They’ll go as far to limit public testimony to ONE MINUTE. Absolutely ridiculous #arpx

Lots of people speaking against. The constitutionality of the bill itself is being brought up. Pointing to the #arleg’s overreach, and how local control should be held up in the issue of censorship and book banning. #arpx

Sen. Clark says that kids don’t have rights given by the 1st amendment. Big yikes 😬
#arpx #arleg

Sen. Rice makes motion for immediate consideration to cut off public testimony. Rice says that the #arleg committee members wasted time.

Motion carries, #SB81 passes Senate Judiciary.