>>> INDIANA HAS MORE THAN 290 SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

NOWHERE ON THE LIST LAST TIME I CHECKED ANYWAY WILL YOU FIND SODOM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT OR GO MORA CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL CORPORATION.

YOU MIGHT ASSUME OTHERWISE THOUGH IF YOU LISTEN TO SOME CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKERS AND A CADRE OF INCREASINGLY VOCAL ACTIVISTS WHO SUGGEST OUR SCHOOLS ARE EMBRACED READING WRITING AND I ROTTED CAN A.

TODAY WE'LL EXAMINE LEGISLATION THAT COULD SEND TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS TO PRISON FOR STAGING PERFORMANCES THAT FEATURE QUOTE MATTER HARMFUL TO MINORS.

W.H.O.

BEHIND THIS CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT CHILDREN.

IS IT APARTMENT BUILDING A LARGER POLITICAL AGENDA THAT TRANSCENDS OUR SCHOOLS.

WOULD THE MEASURE HAVE A CHILLING AFFECT ON HOOSIER EDUCATORS AND WHO WOULD GET TO DECIDE WHO'S HARMFUL?

FROM INDIANA LAWMAKERS FROM THE STATEHOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE.

>>> HAD THE COMMON CORE SHOW BECOME HARD CORE?

PUT ANOTHER WAY DO CERTAIN MATERIALS IN OUR STATE'S SCHOOL LIBRARIES POSE A THREAT TO OUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY AND WELL-BEING?

AND IF SO IS THE AFOREMENTIONED LEGISLATION SENATE BILL 12 THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM?

JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE ARE DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE MATT PIERCE OF BLOOMINGTON, RACHEL BURKE PRESIDENT OF THE INDIANA PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION, DOUG TAYLOR, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE INDIANA STATE TEACHERS EXTENDED FORECAST AND CHAD HECK ADVOCACY COCHAIR OF THE INDIANA LIBRARY FEDERATION.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT YOU MIGHT ALL HAVE SOMETHING APPROXIMATING SIMILAR POSITIONS ON THIS ISSUE EVEN WE DID INVITE IS IT AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 12 AND EVERY COAUTHOR BUT WE ARE AT THE MIDTERM BREAK AND IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO MAKE I WOULD.

SO IEN THREATENED TO FLIP A COIN AND SEE WHO WOULD TAKE THE OTHER SIDE BUT I'LL TRY TO REPRESENT THOSE VIEWS IF I CAN.

LET ME START WITH YOU RACHEL BURKE, YOU KNOW WHAT'S GONE ON THROUGH THE STATE, SCHOOLS AND PARENTS ARE TALKING TO YOU AND THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

IS THERE A PROBLEM?

>> OVER ALL, NO.

PARENTS KNOW THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE THE BOOKS THEIR CHILDREN READ SO OF THEY FEEL CONFIDENT IF THERE'S A BOOK THEY DON'T WANT THEIR KID READING NORMALLY A NOTE GOES HOME AHEAD OF TIME THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE READING THIS BOOK AND IF YOU WOULD LIKED TO OPT OUT PLEASE FEEL FREE.

THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION IS SOLVING A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

>> BUT YOU ACKNOWEDGE THIS DOES HAPPEN IN SOME PLACES AND IT DOES TRIGGER THIS KIND OF RESPONSE FROM PARENTS?

BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF HOW PERVASIVE THIS IS.

THE AUTHOR TALKS ABOUT HOW HE'S APPROACH BY CONSTITUENTS SAYING THIS IS A CRITICAL ISSUE TO THEM.

>> TWO CHILDREN THAT ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL ARRANGE CHILD THAT IS A SOMEWHAT REPEAT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE FOR ALL OF THEM THEY'RE IN AP LITERATURE CLASSES AND, THEY HAVE HAD BOOKS THAT NOTES HAVE BEEN SENT HOME.

SO IS IT MOST RECENT ONE IS THE COLOR PURPLE.

IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO OPT OUT PLEASE SIGN THIS AND IN ALL CASES YOU HAD TO OPT IN.

IF YOU DID NOT RETURN THE NOTE IT WAS CONSIDERED AWANT TO GIVE MY CHILD ALTERNATIVE READING.

TALKING TO MY CHILDREN, THE ALL CASES TESTIFY KID READ IS IT BOOK, WHICH IS TO SAY THAT EITHER THAT HAPPENED OR TEACHERS ARE SENSITIVE ENOUGH TO THIS ISSUE THAT IF A KID IS READING ALTERNATIVE TEXT THEY'RE NOT BEING CALLED OUT IN CLASS, WHICH IS A GREAT THING.

THAT MEANS PARENTS GET TO CHOOSE WHAT THEIR KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO AND THE TEACHERS STUN THAT CHILD IS NOT GOING TO BE CALLED OUT OR HUMILIATED OR STREET TREATS AS OTHER.

>> THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT TEXT BOOKS, THIS IS ABOUT WHAT SHELF HAS THE BOOKS THAT -- >> RIGHT THIS IS ABOUT LIBRARY BOOKS -- >> SUPPORTERS FEEL ARE IN APPROPRIATE.

SO IT MAYBE DOESN'T HAVE THAT SAME REVIEW PROCESS, THE PREEMPTIVE APPROACH.

>> I THINK SCHOOL LIBRARIES HAVE QUITE A BIT REVIEW PROCESS.

I VOLUNTEERED IN A SCHOOL LIBRARY, WE HAVE EXPERTS ON MATERIALS.

THERE ARE NOT BOOKS THERE WAITING FOR KIDS TO CHECK THEM OUT TO SEE NAUGHTY THINGS.

I'M GOING TO BE HONEST, IF YOU WORK THIS A MIDDLE SCHOOL LIBRARY LONG ENOUGH YOU KNOW THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO GET CHECKED OUT AND THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT KIDS HAVE SOMETHING THEY WANT TO READ.

>> THE "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC" IN MY DAY.

LET ME ASK YOU THE HAW AUTHOR OF THE BILL SAID HIS CONSTITUENTs ARE CRYING OUT FOR THIS.

IS YOUR PHONE RINGING?

>> MY PHONE IS NOT RINGING.

WHAT IS CRYING OUT IS THE ALT-RIGHT, AND WE'RE SEEING THIS AT THE STATEHOUSE MORE AND MORE THIS REPUBLICAN PARTY IS DEMANDING THESE CRAZY BILLS, AND LEVEL WHAT WHAT YOU HAVE IS A SMALL MINORITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO IMPOSE THEIR OPEN MORAL VIEWS ON THE COMMUNITY, SO THAW NOW THEY BROUGHT THAT TO THE STATEHOUSE.

>> SO LET'S SAY THIS SIDE ALREADY PASSED IN OTHER STRAITS, TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, UTAH, AN NOT AN EXHAUST I IVE LIST AND I DON'T SEE ANYBODY BEING PROSECUTED OR CHARGED.

>> HERE'S THE THING, IN ALL THESE SCHOOLS THEY HAVE ELECTED SCHOOL BOARDS, THEY HAVE SYSTEMS.

THIS IS NOT KNEW.

FOR DECADE IF NOT SINCE SCHOOLS BEGAN THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT WHICH BOOKS SHOULD BE IN LIBRARY CAN THERE'S A PROCESS FOR PARENTS WHO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT A PARTICULAR ITEM TO BRING THAT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SCHOOL AND HAVE THE DISCUSSION.

THE WHAT'S MAKING THESE PEOPLE MAD IS THEY BRING THE BOOKS TO IS THEIR ATTENTION AND THE SCHOOLS DECIDE THEY'RE APPROPRIATE TO BE IN THE LIBRARY.

NOW, WHAT DOES THIS GROUP NO THEY DO WHAT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SAID IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THEY PULL OUT A BOOK AND PULL OUT PACKAGES THAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO HAVE A SEXUAL REFERENCE AND SAY LOOK AT THIS PORNOGRAPHY THERE IS NOT PORNOGRAPHY.

WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS INSTEAD OF TAKING THE WORK AS A WHOLE AND EVERYTHING IN CONTEXT AND DETERMINING DOES IT HAVE ARTISTIC AND SCIENTIFIC AND LITERARY REDEEMING VALUE.

THEY WANT TO RIP OUT OF ALL THESE WORKS AND SAY LOOK, THERE'S PORNOGRAPHY!

IT'S AN OUTRAGE TO HAVE LEGISLATORS PERPETUATING THE IDEA THAT THERE'S QUOTE PORNOGRAPHY IN OUR SCHOOLS.

>> LET ME ASK YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ONLY A LIBRARIAN BUT YOU'RE AN ATTORNEY, BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE THE BILL WHO SAY WE HAVE LAWS IN PLACE, YOU KIND OF ALLUDED TO THIS.

THAT IF SOMEBODY IS DISTRIBUTING OBSCENE MATERIAL, PORNOGRAPHY, THAT THAT'S NOT PROTECTING -- YES THERE IS THE PROVISION THAT REPRESENTATIVE PIERCE TALKS ABOUT WHERE IF IT'S LITERARY OR EDUCATIONAL OR CULTURAL, BUT THAT'S NOT SHIELDING A LIBRARIAN OR A TEACHER WHO'S PULLING OUT A COPY OF FILL IN YOUR FAVORITE MAGAZINE, NOT YOURS, SO IS THERE A NEED OR -- >> THERE'S NOT A NEED.

WE HAVE A CASE OF A TEACHER WHO WAS ARRESTED FOR PROVIDING CONTENT HARMFUL TO MINORS AND IT WAS NOT A LIBRARY BOOK, IT WAS NOT A TEXT BOOK OR A CLASSROOM NOVEL, IT WAS REALLY PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL AND THAT TEACHER IS FACING THE PROCESS AND SHOULD FACE THE PROCESS.

IT WAS DEFINITELY HARMFUL MATERIAL.

BUT THAT JUST SHOWS THE NEED THAT OUR CURRENT OUT LAW AND PROCESS HAS.

>> AND YOUR ORGANIZATION HAD NO QUALMS ABOUT THE PROSECUTION OF THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE DO WANT TO KEEP POWER OF ATTORNEY OUT OF THE HANDS OF CHILDREN BUT WHAT WE HAVE IN LIBRARIES IS NOT PORNOGRAPHY.

>> I'LL GO BACK TO THE SPONSOR, HE SAID AGAIN DURING THE FLOOR DEBATE THAT HE'S TRYING TO KEEP BAD BOOKS AWAY FROM LITTLE TYKES.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH KEEPING BAD BOOKS AWAY FROM TYKES?

>> I DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG IT'S JUST THE DECISION OF WHICH ARE BAD.

THIS IS MY THIRTY-FIRST YEAR TEACHING AND I WORK WITH PARENTS EVERY YEAR ON THE BOOKS THAT WE'RE READING, SHARING THE LIST AND THINGS A NONISSUE.

WE REALLY HAVE SETTLEMENT SO MUCH TIME ON THIS ISSUE THAT ISN'T SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE PARENTS ALREADY HAVE AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BEFORE, PARENTS HAVE A LOT OF AVENUES TO CHALLENGE BOOKS OR TO CHOOSE AN ALTERNATE TEXT.

WE'RE GETTING INTO THE CENSORING OF CURRICULUM, BUT IT'S NOT AN ISSUE.

THIS INTERACTS FROM THE WORK WE SHOULD BE DOING FROM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE'RE NOT FUNDING THEM IN THE DRAFT BUDGET, WE'RE NOT FUNDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS ADEQUATELY AND WE'RE NOT SUPPORTING EDUCATOR VOICE WITH THE TEACHER SHORTAGE WE HAVE CURRENTLY WE KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.

COMPETITIVE PAY, IMPROVED WORKING CONDITIONS AND ADVOCATING FOR THEIR VOICE.

>> SINCE WE DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET ARCHITECTS HERE I FELT COMPELLED TO PUT ON MY BUTT ACTOR HALT, THERE WAS A INCREASE TEN FOR TUITION SUPPORT, A BIG CHUNK GOES TO THE VOUCHER PROGRAM.

BUT LET ME ASK A FOLLOW UP TO THE QUESTION ABOUT THE OTHER STATES WHERE THIS HAS BEEN IN PLACE, BUT HAS THERE BEEN MALICIOUS PROSECUTION OF TEACHERS THAT YOU'VE SEEN IS THIS BECAUSE CLEARLY THE UNIONS ARE TALKING WITH ANOTHER AND THERE ARE STATES WHERE THIS IS IN PLACE.

BUT YOU TAKE NOTION THAT THERE ISES THAT A REAL POSSIBILITY, SOMEBODY COULD BE A LEVEL SIX FELONY WHICH IS PUNISHABLE BY A PRISON TERM AND A HEFTY FINE.

YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S JUST SORT OF A -- YOU KNOW, THE WORST KALES QUAYS CASE SCENARIO.

>> WE ARE CAREFUL AND INTENTIONAL ABOUT OUR CRAFT SO IF THE LEGISLATURE DRAWS A LINE IT'S GOING TO HAVE A CHILLING AFFECT ON WHAT PEOPLE ARE OFFERING.

I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO HIGH SCHOOL DUAL CREDIT TEACHERS WHO ARE LIKE I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN CONTINUE TO USE THIS TEXT GIVEN WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> THIS WOMEN EXEMPTS COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES BUT DUAL CREDIT BY DEFINITION IS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TAKING COLLEGE COURSE WORK, SO I GUESS THAT'S AN UNANSWERED QUESTION IN THE BILL.

>> THESE GROUPS ARE NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY UNTIL THEY SEE A FEW ENGLISH TEACHERS IN JAIL SO THERE IS A BIG CHILLING AFFECT BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO GET A SITUATION WHERE YOU'RE TAKING AWAY A DEFENSE, THIS STUFF IS INVOLVED IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS, IT HAS EDUCATIONAL VALUE, THIS.

TO STRIP THAT OUT AND TAKE STUFF OUT OF CONTEXT AND SEE IF THEY CAN GET STUFF OUT OF THE SCHOOLS.

HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DO THAT?

THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT BY SCARING THE SCHOOL BOARD SAYING I HAVE THIS LAW AND YOU ARE NOT PROTECTED ANYMORE.

CAN BY THE WAY THE THING I HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IF THIS MUCH WERE GIVEN TO A CHILD OUTSIDE THE SCHOOLS THEY WOULD BE IN JAIL BUT THEY HAVE IN SPECIAL LOOPHOLE.

THAT IS COMPLETE B.S.

YOU CAN GO DOWN THE STREET, ANY TEENAGE KID WITH GO IN A BOOKSTORE AND BUY THAT YOUNG ADULT FIRST THAT HAS MAYBE LGBTQ THEMES IN IT AND NOBODY IS GOING TO SHOW UP AND SAY THAT'S AN IN DECENT BOOK.

>> OUR SAVE A BUCK AND GO ON THEIR PHONE.

>> THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT'S INTERESTING IS THE REAL PROBLEM WITH PORNOGRAPHY IS THE FACT THAT IT'S SO PERVASIVE ON THE INTERNET AND EVERY KID HAS ACCESS TO ALL THAT STUFF AND THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU TEACH KIDS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS AND HOW IT'S NOT REALITY AND THAT SHOULDN'T BE SHAPING THEIR RELATIONSHIPS.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF REAL ISSUES THE LEGISLATURE COULD BE ADDRESSING WHEN IT COMES TO CONTENT AND WHAT KIDS ARE EXPOSED TO AND TRY TO DO IT IN A REASONABLE CONSTITUTIONAL WAY BUT INSTEAD THEY HAVE US OFF ON THIS TANGENT.

WHY DID ID CALL IT AN ALT-RIGHT MOVEMENT?

PEOPLE ARE SAYING THESE BOOKS ARE IN THE LIBRARY BECAUSE IT'S A COMMUNIST MARXIST CONSPIRACY TO UNDERMINE OUR WAY OF LIFE.

THAT ARE THE LEVEL TO WHICH THE LEGISLATURE HAS DESCENDED.

>>> I WON'T ASK YOU THAT THIS BILL WOULD SAY THIS IS SOMETHING THE PTA SHOULD CHERISH, PARENT RIGHT, THIS IS WRITTEN WITH YOU IN MIND AND THEY'RE SAYING NOT ONLY IS THIS IS IT PROHIBITION AND THE REMOVAL OF THE DEFENSE THAT WE ALLUDED TO EARLIER BUT ALSO IT SETTLES UNA COMPLAINT MECHANISM, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW FORMAL IT WAS IN THE PAST.

LETTER WRITERS WERE NOT SHY ABOUT WRITING A IN A NOTE AND THERE'S AN APPEALS PROCESS WHERE THE OBJECTING PARENT CAN BE TOLD NO, SO WHAT'S ROB WITH THAT?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE'RE THE INDIANA PTA, OUR MEMBER IS PARENTS AND TEACHERS CAN STUDENTS.

WE ARE HERE -- OUR GOAL IS ALL TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUTH AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS SATELLITE FACT THAT ALL YOUTH HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN BOOKS AND THAT HAS TO BE A FAR MORE IMPORTANT STATEMENT THAT A CHILD HAS THE RIGHT TO SEE THEIR FAMILY TYPE, THE TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP THEIR PARENTS ARE IN.

THE TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP THEY WANT TO BE IN THE BOOKS THIS HAVE ACCESS TO, THAT IT IS FOR PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO PULL ALL THOSE BOOKS OUT.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO AS FAR AS YOU RESPECTFULLY BUT THIS IS AND HAS BEEN A AN ATTACK ON LGBTQ-PLUS CONTEMPT AND THE CHILDREN AND THAT CONTENT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

THOSE KIDS, KIDS WHO IDENTIFY IN THIS WAY, KID WHOSE FAMILIES LOOK LIKE THAT, THEY NEED TO FEEL ACCEPTED, THEY NEED TO FEEL SECURE, THEY NEED TO FEEL THEY ARE A PART OF SOCIETY AND ONE OF THE WAYS WE DO THAT IS THAT WE HAVE BOOK THAT SHOW YOUR FAMILY IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE, THAT YOUR FAMILY IS NORMAL, THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE LOVED THE WAY THAT YOU ARE.

THAT'S REALLY AS A PARENT THE IMPORTANT PART.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OUR CHILDREN FEEL ACCEPTED AND THAT HAS TO BE IN THE END THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HERE.

>> I KNOW ON THE FLOOR WHEN THE SENATOR WAS ASKED THE AUTHOR, EXAMPLES, DIDN'T CITE THEM THERE BUT LATER THE STATEHOUSE FILE WHICH IS A NEWS OUTLET THAT SERVE THE STATE WENT AND ASKED LATER AND HIS AIDE GAVE FOUR EXAMPLES, GENDER QUEER AND DEAD TEND WHICH IS A GRIT CITY TEEN ROMANCE, IS THE FACT THAT THESE ARE ABOUT THE LGBTQ LIFESTYLE AND ADJUSTING OR COMING TO TESTIMONY TERMS WITH THAT, IS THAT PROOF THAT THERE'S ANOTHER AGENDA AT WORK ASIDE FROM JUST KEEPING SMUT, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT -- ONE OF YOU USED THE TERM SMUT, AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN, DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T -- I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEIR AGENDA IS.

THE EFFECT LEISURE THAT THOSE WILL BE TAKEN OUT, THAT'S THE EFFECT OF THE POLICIES.

I DON'T TO ASSIGN MOTIVATION TO THEM, TO OTHER FOLKS WHO HAVE HAVE OTHER DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE BUT WHEN WE'RE EXCLUDING REPRESENTATION FOR STUDENTS I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO CONSIDER.

>> YOUR ORGANIZATION HASN'T BEEN FOCUSED SOLELY ON THIS BILL THIS WEEK, LOOKING AT THE TEACHING FOR INSTANCE, A BILL THAT WOULD -- ANY KIND OF SEXUAL EDUCATION FOR CAN RECOLLECT THROUGH THIRD GRADE AND THEN YOU HAVE THE NOTION OF TREATMENTS OF TRANS YOUTH IN TERMS OF GENDER AFFIRMATION, BUT YOU LOOK AT THESE OTHER BILL ASKS YOU THINK THAT'S COINCIDENCE?

I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT BUT REPRESENTATIVE PIERCE TALKED ABOUT A BROADER GEMMED AND I'M GUESSING HE MIGHT BE WILLING THE SAY -- ALWAYS JUDICIOUS FOLKS AT ISTA MIGHT NOT.

>>> WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS I THINK IN THIS SESSION IS THEY'VE TAKEN SOME THINGS THAT WERE ALL PUT TOT IN A PRIOR SESSION AND DISTRIBUTED THEM IN DIFFERENT BILLS SO THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO PASS THROUGH BUT THE CONCERTED EFFORT IS THERE TO MINIMIZE THE VOICES OF FOLKS THEY DON'T AGREE WITH.

AND SOME OF THOSE TITLES -- SOME OF THE BILL THAT YOU MENTIONED, WERE NOT DOING THE SEXUALITY SESSION IN K THREE.

IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

IT'S A NONISSUE, IT'S ANOTHER TIME WHERE I WORRY ABOUT WITH THE K THREE THING IN IS MY ELEMENTARIES WE HAVE A COMMUNITY GROUP THAT COMES IN AND THEY TALK ABOUT SAFE TOUCH AND WHO YOU TELL IF SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT'S NOT SAFE CAN DOES THAT CAUSE US NOT TO WORK WITH THIS COMMUNITY GROUP THAT HAS OUR STUDENTS AS BEST INTERESTS AT HEART FOR KEEPING THEM SAFE?

DOES THAT CHANGE WHAT WE CAN DO TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE IN K THREE?

I THINK THE OTHER CONCERN IS THE SILENCING OF THOSE -- I KNOW THAT STUDENTs WHO ARE -- THE TRANS STUDENTS WE HAVE ARE IN A PLACE WHERE IT IS NOT AN EASY ROAD FOR THEM TO WALK, AND YET WE'RE ACTING LIKE IT'S A CAVALIER CHOICE AND I KNOW THAT WHEN PARENTS LOOK FOR TREATMENT FOR STUDENTS OR FOR THEIR CHILDREN, THAT THEY ARE VERY CAREFUL.

THEY'RE NOT JUST OUT THERE DOING THIS ON A WHIM.

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS THAT HAVE TO TAKE PLACE WITH THE CHILD BEFORE ANYTHING MOVES FORWARD, THOSE ARE INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR OUR DOCTORS,, SO LEGISLATORS ARE TRYING TO BE DOCTORS AND THAT'S NOT THEIR ROLE.

>> LET ME LET YOU WEIGH IN ON THIS.

THESE ISSUES HAVE COME UP NATIONALLY.

I GUESS ONE WOULD SAY EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE CONSTITUENTS IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS THAT ARE COMPLAINING IT'S ALSO SEEING -- I DON'T KNOW HOW ORGANIC THIS IS, IT'S ALSO NATIONALLY DRIVEN.

IS THE AGENDA HERE BIGGER?

AND MAYBE WHETHER IT'S LGBTQ OR DRUMMING UP THE BASE BECAUSE THE NEXT LB.

IS AROUND THE CORNER.

>> AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION TRACKS BOOK CHALLENGES AND IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE HAD A HUGE TREMENDOUS GROWTH OF CHALLENGING LIBRARY COLLECTIONS AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THE FOUR BOOKS THAT SENATOR TOMS MENTIONED THOSE ARE NOT IN OUR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOMS.

THOSE ARE REVIEWED FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND HOW WE COLLECT BOOKS WE READ REVIEWS AND THOSE -- I THINK THERE'S THIS PERCEPTION AMONG SOME THAT WE'RE GIVING THOSE VERY DIFFICULT TOPICS TO A FOURTH GRADER AND THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENINGFUL THOSE ARE BOOK THAT ARE WRITTEN FOR HIGH SCHOOL AGE AND THOSE ARE THE COLLECTIONS THAT THEY'RE IN, AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS.

WE'RE NOT PUTTING AGE IN APPROPRIATE MATERIALS IN OUR COLLECTIONS.

>> AM I CORRECT THAT YOU SEE OPPOSITION TO CERTAIN BOOKS COMING NOT ONLY FROM THE RIGHT BUT FROM THE LEFT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO I SHOULD MAKE CLEAR THINGS THINGS NOT PICKING ON ANY PART OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUMMEN IT'S MORE ABOUT PEOPLE WITH STRONG VIEWS ON EITHER SIDE.

>> WE'VE SEEN DR. SEUSS CHALLENGED FROM THE LEFT AND CANCEL CULTURE AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT -- AS LIBRARIANS WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT OUR COLLECTION REGARDLESS -- >> IT WOULD BOTHER YOU EITHER WAY, SO IT'S A SMALL BILL.

YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS ON THE PLATE LIKE THE BUDGET, BUT IF THIS -- WHAT'S THE HARM?

YOU REPRESENT INDIANA UNIVERSITY WHICH HAS MADE HEADLINES BECAUSE OF YOUR CHAMBER VOTING TO ESSENTIALLY PROVIDEIU FROM CHANNELING THE STATE DOLLARS FROM INSTITUTE.

BUT THIS BILL DOESN'T DEAL WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

ARE YOU WORRIED THAT'S THE NEXT STEP?

IF THIS BILL PASSES -- IF THIS BILL PASSES IT WILL EMBOLDEN PEOPLE.

AND I DON'T WANT OUR TEACHERS TO HAVE TO GO INTO A CLASSROOM AND LIVE IN FEAR THAT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO TRY TO GET THIS MANY AVERSED FOR WHAT THEY'RE READING.

TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IN SCHOOLS TO RAISEOS IF THEY HAVE CONCERNS SO THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE I THINK TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS TO REIN IN WHAT THEY DO AND A LIBRARY AND EDUCATION REFLECTS YOUR DEMOCRACY.

YOU WANT A WIDE ARRAY OF VIEWS AND IDEAS AND YOU WANT THE STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO NOT JUST HAVE A VERY NARROW EXPOSURE TO IDEAS.

YOU WANT THAT TO BE VERY BROAD AND I THINK WHAT THIS BILL IS ULTIMATELY TRYING TO DO IN THE NAME OF STOPPING POWER OF PORNOGRAPHY IS THEY REALLY WANT TO NARROW DOWN THE IDEAS THAT STUDENTS ARE EXPOSED TO AND THAT'S THE REAL DANGER.

>> WE HAVE TALK ABOUT HOW VOCAL THE GROUPS -- AND PARENTS AND MOPS FOR LIBERTY, YOU HAVE AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROBABLY EXISTED A HUNDRED YEARS PLUS BEFORE THEY CAME AROUND.

SO WHAT DO YOU DO TO MATCH THAT -- THEY'RE GOING TO BE RALLYING CAN CALLING THEIR LAWMAKERS.

WHAT IS THE STRATEGY FOR COUNTERING THAT?

>> IT'S THE SAME STRATEGY THEY HAVE, THE SAME STRATEGY ALL NONPROFITS HAVE, WE CONTACT OUR MEMBERSHIP AND ASK THEY WILL TO E-MAIL AND CALL THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, AND TESTIFY IN FRONT OF COMMITTEE IN IT GETS ASSIGNED.

WE'LL ASK OTHER OF PEEL PEOPLE THE COME TESTIFY AND THAT'S THE PLAY BOOK THAT WE HAVE.

WE REACH OUT AND TALK TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS, WE'RE OUT THERE -- >> PUT IT ON TELEVISION PROGRAMS.

>> E-MAIL, BUT WE RALLY THE TROOPS THE SAME WAY AND WE GO OUT THERE CAN WE DO THAT.

>> I MAY HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF THERE ONLY BECAUSE BELIEVE IT OR NOT WE FILLED THE TIME AND WE COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON.

NOBODY IS CENSORING US WE'RE JUST OUT OF TIME.

YOU GOT THE FIR WORD AND LAST WORD IN.

I THANK YOU YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

MY GUESTS HAVE BEEN DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE MATT PEER PIERCE, DOUG TAYLOR OF THE INDIANA STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AND CHAD HECK OF THE INDIANA LIBRARY FEDERATION.

TIME NOW FOR OUR WEEKLY CONVERSATION WITH ED FEIGENBAUM.

SO ED THIS BILL WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ELEMENT IDENTICAL VERSION HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO PAST TWO OR THREE YEARS.

LAST YEAR PRETTY MUCH I THINK MAYBE -- IT GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE OF ORIGIN AND THAT WAS IT.

IS THIS A YEAR FOR A DIFFERENT OUTCOME?

>> YET TO BE SEEN, JOHN.

THIS BILL WITHIN THING THAT BOTH SIDES AGREE UPON IS IT HAS A CHILLING EFFECT BUT EACH SIDE SAYS THAT IT'S GOOD THAT IT HAS A CHILLING EFFECT.

YOU HAVE THE ADVOCATES SAYING, GOOD THIS WILL KEEP THIS OUT OF THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

THE DETRACTORS SAY THIS WILL KEEP GOOD THINGS OUT OF SCHOOL LIBRARIES SO IT'S REALLY AN IDEOLOGICAL BILL AND WE HAVE IDEOLOGICAL SO-CALLED CULTURAL WAR BILLS AND WE'RE SEEING THEM JUST LIKE SB 12, THESE THINGS ARE COMING BACK.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT SPEAKER HUSTON DOES IN THE HOW TO REIN IN HIS CAUCUS AND HAVE HIM BE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AS OPPOSED TO SPEAKER OF JUST HIS CAUCUS, BECAUSE THERE'S A GROWING GROUP, A GROWING CORE IN HIS CAUCUS THAT REALLY ARE FOR THESE THINGS, CAN THAT HE WILL HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH IF HE DOESN'T LET THESE THINGS PROCEED.

HERE'S GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM KEEPING THE CORE PRIMARY VOTERS SATISFIED IF HE DOESN'T RALLY THESE THINGS.

>> IF HE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE THIS AND WOULD JUST AS SOON HAVE THE SAME FATE AS LAST SESSION, IS THE ARGUMENT HOAR WHAT MATT PIERCE ARTICULATED BIGGER FISH TO FRY T. WE HAVE TOO MUCH ON OUR PLATE.

>> YES AND THIS IS WHERE THE GOVERNOR CAN COME SAY LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO OTHER THINGS, BUT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT HERE'S GOING TO STEP IN YET.

>>> ED, APPRECIATE YOUR IN SIGHT.

DOES INDIANA NEED TO TIGHTEN UP RESTRICTIONS ON ABSENTEE VOTING ON THE NEXT INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

WELL.

THAT CONCLUDES ANOTHER EDITION OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

I'M JON SCHWANTES AND ON BEHALF OF COMMENTATOR ED FEIGENBAUM I THANK YOU FOR JOINING US I INVITED YOU TO VISIT WFYI.ORG FOR MORE STATEHOUSE NEWS.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, TAKE CARE.