NY State Senate Bill 2023-S9647

Senate Bill S9647

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Directs the education department to conduct a study to evaluate services provided by public library systems of the state

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 16, 2024	referred to education

2023-S9647 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education

2023-S9647 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Directs the education department to conduct a study to evaluate services provided by public library systems of the state to determine if the current funding standards are adequate and equitably enable libraries to meet community needs across the state; makes related provisions.

2023-S9647 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S9647

SPONSOR: CHU
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to conducting a study to evaluate the services
provided by public libraries, how the demand for services vary across
library systems, and to evaluate if current funding standards equitably
meet community needs across the state; and providing for the repeal of
such provisions upon expiration thereof

 
PURPOSE:

This legislation would require the Commissioner of the State Education
Department, in consultation with the statewide public library systems,
to conduct a study evaluating the wide-range of services provided by
libraries, how the demand for services vary across library systems based
on community needs, and to evaluate if current funding standards equit-
ably meet those needs across the state.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. This legislation would require the Commissioner of the State
Education Department, in consultation with the statewide public library
systems, to conduct a study evaluating what types of services are
provided by public libraries, how the need for these services vary
across the state, and how these services meet the diverse needs of their
communities. Additionally, the study shall require an evaluation of the
current public library funding formulas to determine if funding is effi-
ciently and equitably distributed to allow all libraries to meet best
practice standards and support the needs of the communities they serve.

This legislation requires a report of such study and any resulting
recommendations for changes to public library funding to be provided to
the Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly, the Temporary President of
the Senate, the Chair of the Assembly Libraries and Education Technology
Committee, and the Chair of the Senate Committee on Libraries on or
before January 1, 2026.

Section 2. Effective Date

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State's public libraries are vital resources within communities
that provide a wide-range of educational and supportive services, often
serving those with the most need by helping to fill gaps created by
socio-economic inequality or due to lack of resources elsewhere in the
community, including new immigrants, seniors, youth communities, and the
indigent. This study will serve to not only determine the totality of
the various services and programs that are currently offered throughout
the state, but also to show how libraries are meeting the individual
needs of their communities, and how those needs may vary within library
systems.

The library funding formula is heavily reliant on population and proper-
ty values, which can fail to take into account the needs of economically
disadvantaged communities. An evaluation of public library funding, to
be completed in conjunction with an audit of the various resources.
programs and services currently offered, will help determine if current
standards are efficiently and equitably providing support to libraries
based on their individual communities' needs.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2023-S9647 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9647
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 16, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  CHU  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT in relation to  conducting  a  study  to  evaluate  the  services
   provided  by public libraries, how the demand for services vary across
   library systems, and to evaluate if current funding  standards  equit-
   ably  meet  community  needs  across  the state; and providing for the
   repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  1.  There  shall  be  a  study conducted by the education
 department to evaluate the services provided by public  library  systems
 across the state.
   2. Such department, in consultation with the public library systems of
 the  state,  shall  assess and report on the services provided in public
 libraries and  the  variation  in  demand  of  services  within  library
 systems,  and  to  determine if the current funding standards defined in
 section 254  of  the  education  law  adequately  and  equitably  enable
 libraries  to  meet  community  needs across the state. Such study shall
 assess the types and frequency of services provided at public libraries,
 including but not limited to: digital  technology,  workforce  readiness
 and  career  services, life skills and adult educational programs, chil-
 dren and adolescent programs, and community  events.  Additionally,  the
 study  shall  assess  the  quality  and  capability of available library
 resources, including both printed and digital materials,  computers  and
 other technological tools, equipment and/or machinery.
   3.  For  the  purposes of this act, the following terms shall have the
 following meanings:
   (a) "public library" shall mean any  public  or  association  library,
 other  than  a  professional, technical or public school library, estab-
 lished for free public purposes by official action of a municipality  or
 district  or  the  legislature,  where the whole interests belong to the
 public;
   (b) "public library system" shall mean:
   (i) A library established by one or more counties;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD15529-01-4
 S. 9647                             2
 
   (ii) A group of libraries serving an area including one or more  coun-
 ties in whole or in part;
   (iii) A library of a city containing one or more counties; and
   (iv)  A cooperative library system established pursuant to section 255
 of the education law, the plan of library service of any of which  shall
 have been approved by the commissioner of education.
   4.  The  study  required  by this act shall be completed by January 1,
 2026.  The findings of such study shall be provided to the governor, the
 speaker of the assembly, the temporary  president  of  the  senate,  the
 chair  of the assembly libraries and education technology committee, and
 the chair of the senate committee on libraries.  The  findings  of  such
 study shall also be posted on the New York state library's website.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed January 1, 2026.

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