Ohio Library Council reports that Senator Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) has introduced SB 144 , which calls for public libraries to install filters to prevent Internet access to obscene materials. Bill also hopes to prohibit the check out of “R” rated video to patrons under 18 years of age. The first hearing was Wed, Nov 12.
Ohio Library Council reports that Senator Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) has introduced SB 144 , which calls for public libraries to install filters to prevent Internet access to obscene materials. Bill also hopes to prohibit the check out of “R” rated video to patrons under 18 years of age. The first hearing was Wed, Nov 12.Here are the issues:
– Requiring all libraries to install software to filter the Internet.
– Library boards that refuse to filter will not be eligible for state funding (LLGSF)
– A general standard that all libraries must have a system or procedure in place to implement what type of video media that a juvenile is able to access, and that children until the age of 18 will not be permitted to check out “Râ€? rated videos.
– Prohibits the sale of “pre-paid porn cardsâ€?
Pre-paid porn cards?
Wow…my library doesn’t sell these “pre-paid porn cardsâ€?! I wonder why not? Not even pre-paid phone cards. Maybe they could place them next to the bookmarks and library bags. Or the book of the month. Are they collectable like some phone cards?
Actually, the article at the StarBeacon does a poor job of explaining these cards, so could someone in OH let us know? I assume these aren’t things for sale in the library.
Re:Pre-paid porn cards? 😉
The article says that the cards allow the user to access adult material for a certain amount of time… 10 days, 30 days, etc… I imagine that they are a lot like pre-paid calling cards. Or like a gym membership, except that it’ll get used.
Here we go.
So, then this would be the slightly thicker part of the wedge, right? Just beyond the thin edge?
Re:Pre-paid porn cards?
The article makes it sound like the cards are already for sale. I hope not.
> The bill also would make it a crime to sell prepaid “porn cards� to juveniles.
Re:Pre-paid porn cards?
This bill is an attempt to broaden the existing section of the law that makes it a criminal offense to disseminate obscene materials to juveniles in the state of Ohio.
So, it involves the pre-paid cards on their own right. You can find more about these cards by doing a web search on “pre-paid porn cards”. Anyone can become a distributor, but, it would seem that the cards are mostly going to be sold at adult entertainment shops, although I have heard that the cards have been spotted at gas stations and convenience stores.
The cards make it so a person can access the “pay for” porn sites on the web anonymously for a certain period of time.
This bill wants to make it a criminal offense to sell or give this card to a juvenile. South Dakota passed a similar bill about making the pre-paid cards illegal for minors last year.
As for the public libraries being a part of the ammendment, I am not sure what the senator has in mind as far as charging the individuals working in the libraries. Would the state charge a library clerk with a sex offense if they allow a kid to check out a R rated video?
I started to read the bill, but I was not finding that answer easily. It is clear they want to hold back state funding if the library does not have a filter or age restrictive circ policy for videos. It looks like dirty books are okay, for now.
If this passes, this bill would be a big deal in Library Heaven Ohio, since 80% of most PL’s budgets’ come directly from the state, so this bill could effectively close some libraries if they do not get filters.