“A bill to require an independent review process for the prohibition of books at Bureau of Prisons facilities, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes definitions for this Act, including (1) "Director" as the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, and (2) "professional librarian" as a librarian who has a master's degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association.
This section requires the Bureau of Prisons Director, not later than 90 days after enactment, to establish a Publication Review Committee to approve or disapprove the availability of books at Bureau of Prisons facilities. The committee consists of not fewer than five members, including the Federal Prison Ombudsman, one Bureau-employed professional librarian, one individual in Bureau custody, and one individual with First Amendment expertise. Following the committee's establishment, the Director may prohibit a book only upon written request with detailed justification and committee approval; inmates may appeal prohibitions to the committee, which must issue a final written determination within 90 days prohibiting bans motivated by a book's viewpoint (including if deemed unpopular, repugnant, or violative of inmates' information access rights) while otherwise exercising discretion without Director approval; and books subject to appeal remain accessible pending determination.
This section requires the Director to submit an annual report to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year following enactment, detailing any books prohibited during the preceding fiscal year and summarizing each appeal filed under section 3(c)(2), including status and final outcome as applicable.