2009 Senate Bill 645 (Ban censorship of student publications )

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Introduced by Sen. Michael Switalski (D) on June 17, 2009, to prohibit public school officials from imposing prior restraint (censorship) on a student publication unless the content is obscene, defamatory, constitutes advertising for a product illegal for minors, or represents a clear and present danger (based on specific facts) of an unlawful act or a school disruption. The bill also would require schools to appoint a faculty advisor to student publications, prohibit disciplining a faculty advisor for refusing to censor, and provide civil immunity to school board members, administrators, and faculty advisors for any expression made by a student in the publication.
- Referred to the Senate Education Committee on June 17, 2009.

Most Recent Comments

1) Re: 2009 Senate Bill 645 (Ban censorship of student publications ) [by FreeSpeaker on June 23, 2009]

The MichiganVotes caption (headline) for this bill is inaccurate, misleading and inflammatory. In fact, it contradicts the Mackinac Center's own synopsis of the bill. SB 645 does not ban censorship at all, according to that summary. It clearly authorizes censorship of student publications for cause under certain very reasonable circumstances. In so doing, it also places very reasonable and sane restrictions on the authority to censor.

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2) Re: 2009 Senate Bill 645 (Ban censorship of student publications ) [by changeagent on June 23, 2009]

It seems to me that if students are using the school's assets to produce a paper, the school should have the right to regulate its content. Now if the students go out on their own and produce a paper the school should have no say as to content.

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3) 2009 Senate Bill 645 (Ban censorship of student publications ) [by admin on January 1, 2001]
Introduced in the Senate on June 17, 2009

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