SCS/HCS/HB 1940 - This act establishes the "Cronkite New Voices Act", which states that in both public high schools and public institutions of higher education, a student journalist has the right to exercise freedom of speech and of the press in school-sponsored media. The act permits schools districts and student-media advisors to regulate the number, length, frequency, and format of school-sponsored media. School districts shall adopt a written freedom of the press policy that includes reasonable provisions for the time, place, and manner of student expression. The policy may also restrict speech that is offensive or threatening. District or student-media advisor review of school-sponsored media and encouragement of professional standards of English and journalism shall not abridge the right to freedom of expression.
The act forbids school districts from prior restraint of school-sponsored media except in circumstances specified in the act.
This act is similar to HCS/HB 441 (2017) and HB 2058 (2016).
JAMIE ANDREWS