S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6961
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 18, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. CHLUDZINSKI, RA -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Libraries and Education Technology
 
 AN ACT in relation  to  establishing  a  comprehensive  study  examining
   public library aid formulas and library construction formulas
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Public library aid  and  public  library  construction  aid
 formulas  study.  The  commissioner  of  education  shall  enter  into a
 contract with a third-party entity to conduct a comprehensive  study  of
 the public library aid and public library construction aid formulas. The
 contracted entity, in consultation with the department of education, the
 division  of budget and any other state agencies deemed necessary, shall
 examine, evaluate, and recommend potential modifications to  the  calcu-
 lation of public library aid formulas pursuant to sections 271, 273, 284
 and  285  of  the  education law and the public library construction aid
 formula pursuant to section 273-a of the education law.  The  contracted
 entity  shall  gather and consider feedback from a broad range of stake-
 holders, including but not limited to library systems, library  adminis-
 trators,  library  boards,  municipal  officials,  school districts, and
 library organizations. The contracted entity shall hold at  least  three
 public hearings across the state to gather input from such stakeholders.
   §  2. The results, findings, and recommendations of the study shall be
 for study purposes only and shall not be  considered  binding  upon  the
 executive or the legislature in any manner.
   §  3.  The  study  shall evaluate each component of the current public
 library aid and public library construction aid formulas and other rele-
 vant factors including but not limited to:
   (a) whether the formulas ensure adequate and equitable funding for all
 library systems;
   (b) per capita aid calculations and their responsiveness to  inflation
 and population changes;

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08812-01-5
              

 A. 6961                             2
 
   (c) maintenance of effort requirements for municipalities;
   (d) outstanding capital improvement needs;
   (e) technology access; and
   (f)  library operating aid and library construction aid funding models
 used in other states.
   § 4. No later than one year following the effective date of this  act,
 the  contracted  entity shall submit a report of its findings and recom-
 mendations to the governor, the temporary president of the  senate,  the
 minority  leader  of  the  senate,  the speaker of the assembly, and the
 minority leader of the assembly. The report shall also be  published  on
 the  contracted  entity's  public website and disseminated to all public
 library systems in the state.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.