Committee agrees language to let parents or guardians access minor's library records

A Committee of Conference reached agreement on House Bill 273 to combine House and Senate approaches for parental access to a minor’s library borrowing records. The committee agreed that current-borrowing records (printed materials, audio-visual like DVDs and CDs) shall be available to either parent or legal guardian when requested by either parent or guardian who is listed on the minor’s library account or whose address matches the address on the minor’s account.

Members said the compromise solves a gap the Senate language created: in some towns minors can open accounts without a parent listed on the account, which could otherwise leave parents without a means to access records. The combined language allows access either by listing on the account or by matching address and is intended to capture both situations.

Committee members discussed privacy and safety concerns, including situations involving domestic violence. Senator Smith (name used in debate) raised concerns about exposing a child’s or parent’s address in domestic-violence cases; committee members acknowledged the point but did not add an exemption in the text during the conference. Members agreed the effective date should follow the Senate’s proposed date to give libraries that are not fully computerized time to prepare; the committee accepted the Senate effective date.

The House side approved the conference language 4–0 in the transcript; the Senate adopted the agreed wording by voice assent. The committee asked the Office of Legislative Services to prepare the final report and signatures.

Ending: The committee closed the HB 273 conference and assigned Representative Lynn and others to prepare the conference report and redraft for signatures.