NY State Senate Bill 2025-S5494

Senate Bill S5494

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to state financial aid for library social work services

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance 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

View Actions (2)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 08, 2025	reported and committed to finance
Feb 21, 2025	referred to libraries

Votes

- Apr 8, 2025 - Libraries Committee Vote
  S5494
  
  6
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  1
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Libraries Committee Vote: Apr 8, 2025
      
      aye (6)
      
      Brisport
      
      Bynoe
      
      Hoylman-Sigal
      
      Murray
      
      Ryan
      
      Serrano
      
      aye wr (1)
      
      Tedisco

2025-S5494 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A7948
Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §273-b, Ed L

2025-S5494 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Creates a program to award state financial aid for social work services to be provided in libraries located in economically disadvantaged communities to enhance and expand access to services in places where individuals seek assistance and resources.

2025-S5494 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5494

SPONSOR: BYNOE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to state aid for library
social work services; and providing for the repeal of such provisions
upon the expiration thereof

 
PURPOSE:

This purpose of this bill is to establish a social work services program
for libraries and library systems within economically disadvantaged
communities to employ social workers and social worker supervisors.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of this bill would establish a social work services program
for libraries and library systems within economically disadvantaged
communities to employ social workers and social worker supervisors,
including:

*the application and approval process for state aid awards applied for
and approved under such social work services program;

*responsibilities and duties of social workers and social worker super-
visors; and,

*an annual report delivered by the Commissioner of the State Education
Department to the Legislature detailing social work services projects
that have received state funding and the communities to be served by
those projects.

Section 2 shall provide that the effective date shall take effect on the
ninetieth day after it shall have become a law and shall expire and be
deemed repealed three years after such date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

It is the intent of this Legislature to place social workers in
libraries to assist people who need access to greater resources and
social services assistance than what is currently available at a library
without a social worker. Libraries are friendly, hospitable, and restful
public spaces where people from a wide variety of backgrounds and all
walks of life gather to learn, connect with others, and rest. Libraries
provide an essential public good by connecting communities with opportu-
nities to upskill, seek education, and learn about resources to support
basic needs.

People view libraries as safe spaces for rest and learning, where they
can receive vital services for free. Libraries offer respite for all
community members, including the most vulnerable in our communities.
This includes those who are unhoused, those who cannot afford to cool
their homes during the summer, and those without broadband internet
access. As such, libraries are often the first to identify emerging
community issues as residents seek guidance and help from the library.

Many library patrons have needs that cannot be met by existing library
resources. Many needs extend beyond the scope of work of librarians, who
despite their best intentions to serve, are not trained nor equipped to
meet the wide range of social services challenges being faced by
patrons. These needs include housing assistance, mental health services,
and help accessing other social services. The co-location of social
workers in libraries connects people who need assistance with the work-
ers who can help them. Placing social workers in libraries will increase
access to social services for those who need it the most and will ensure
better community health and wellbeing.

Furthermore, by creating dedicated funding for library social workers,
libraries can serve the social services needs of the community without
having to pull funding from other vital services such as buying books,
developing programming, and maintaining the upkeep of their library
buildings. This bill would establish a social work services program for
libraries and library systems within economically disadvantaged communi-
ties to employ social workers and social worker supervisors.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law and shall expire and be deemed repealed three years after
such date.

2025-S5494 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5494
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 21, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  BYNOE  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Libraries
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to state aid for  library
   social  work services; and providing for the repeal of such provisions
   upon the expiration thereof

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 273-b
 to read as follows:
   § 273-B. STATE AID AWARDS FOR LIBRARY SOCIAL WORK SERVICES. 1.  IT  IS
 THE  INTENT  OF THIS LEGISLATURE TO PLACE SOCIAL WORKERS IN LIBRARIES TO
 ASSIST PEOPLE WHO NEED ACCESS TO GREATER RESOURCES AND  SOCIAL  SERVICES
 ASSISTANCE  THAN  WHAT  IS  CURRENTLY  AVAILABLE  AT A LIBRARY WITHOUT A
 SOCIAL WORKER. LIBRARIES ARE FRIENDLY, HOSPITABLE,  AND  RESTFUL  PUBLIC
 SPACES  WHERE PEOPLE FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS AND ALL WALKS OF
 LIFE GATHER TO LEARN, CONNECT WITH OTHERS, AND REST.  LIBRARIES  PROVIDE
 AN ESSENTIAL PUBLIC GOOD BY CONNECTING COMMUNITIES WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO
 UPSKILL,  SEEK  EDUCATION,  AND  LEARN  ABOUT RESOURCES TO SUPPORT BASIC
 NEEDS.
   PEOPLE VIEW LIBRARIES AS SAFE SPACES FOR REST AND LEARNING, WHERE THEY
 CAN RECEIVE VITAL SERVICES FOR FREE. LIBRARIES  OFFER  RESPITE  FOR  ALL
 COMMUNITY  MEMBERS,  INCLUDING  THE  MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
 THIS INCLUDES THOSE WHO ARE UNHOUSED, THOSE WHO CANNOT  AFFORD  TO  COOL
 THEIR  HOMES  DURING  THE  SUMMER,  AND THOSE WITHOUT BROADBAND INTERNET
 ACCESS.  AS SUCH, LIBRARIES ARE OFTEN THE  FIRST  TO  IDENTIFY  EMERGING
 COMMUNITY ISSUES AS RESIDENTS SEEK GUIDANCE AND HELP FROM THE LIBRARY.
   MANY LIBRARY PATRONS HAVE NEEDS THAT CANNOT BE MET BY EXISTING LIBRARY
 RESOURCES. MANY NEEDS EXTEND BEYOND THE SCOPE OF WORK OF LIBRARIANS, WHO
 DESPITE  THEIR BEST INTENTIONS TO SERVE, ARE NOT TRAINED NOR EQUIPPED TO
 MEET THE WIDE  RANGE  OF  SOCIAL  SERVICES  CHALLENGES  BEING  FACED  BY
 PATRONS.     THESE  NEEDS  INCLUDE  HOUSING  ASSISTANCE,  MENTAL  HEALTH
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09848-02-5

 S. 5494                             2
 
 SERVICES, AND HELP ACCESSING OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES. THE  CO-LOCATION  OF
 SOCIAL WORKERS IN LIBRARIES CONNECTS PEOPLE WHO NEED ASSISTANCE WITH THE
 WORKERS  WHO  CAN  HELP  THEM.  PLACING SOCIAL WORKERS IN LIBRARIES WILL
 INCREASE  ACCESS  TO  SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST AND
 WILL ENSURE BETTER COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLBEING.
   FURTHERMORE, BY CREATING DEDICATED FUNDING FOR LIBRARY SOCIAL WORKERS,
 LIBRARIES CAN SERVE THE SOCIAL SERVICES NEEDS OF THE  COMMUNITY  WITHOUT
 HAVING  TO  PULL FUNDING FROM OTHER VITAL SERVICES SUCH AS BUYING BOOKS,
 DEVELOPING PROGRAMMING, AND MAINTAINING  THE  UPKEEP  OF  THEIR  LIBRARY
 BUILDINGS.
   2. STATE AID SHALL BE PROVIDED FOR SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AWARDS, PURSU-
 ANT  TO SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION, FOR SALARY AND FRINGE BENEFITS
 OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND SOCIAL WORKER SUPERVISORS,  WITH  RESPONSIBILITIES
 AND  DUTIES  AS  DETAILED  IN SUBDIVISION SIX OF THIS SECTION, IN PUBLIC
 LIBRARIES AND PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEMS THAT ARE LOCATED IN OR  CONTAIN  AN
 ECONOMICALLY  DISADVANTAGED  COMMUNITY,  OF  SUCH  PUBLIC  LIBRARIES AND
 LIBRARY SYSTEMS CHARTERED BY THE REGENTS OF THE STATE  OF  NEW  YORK  OR
 ESTABLISHED  BY  AN ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE, UPON APPROVAL BY THE COMMIS-
 SIONER. THE TERM SOCIAL WORK SERVICES SHALL BE DEFINED  BY  THE  COMMIS-
 SIONER  IN  ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR OF THIS CHAP-
 TER. THE STATE LIABILITY FOR AID AWARDS PAID PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SECTION
 SHALL BE LIMITED TO FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR SUCH PURPOSE. AWARDS SHALL BE
 PROVIDED ON APPROVED EXPENSES INCURRED DURING THE PERIOD COMMENCING JULY
 FIRST  AND ENDING JUNE THIRTIETH FOR UP TO THREE YEARS; PROVIDED, HOWEV-
 ER, THAT SUCH AWARD  SHALL  BE  PAYABLE  TO  EACH  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  UPON
 APPROVAL  OF  THE APPLICATION BY THE DEPARTMENT IN A MANNER THAT ENSURES
 AWARD EFFECTIVENESS OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD.
   3. EACH SINGLE SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AWARD APPLICATION  FOR  STATE  AID
 ALLOCATED  UNDER  THIS  SECTION  THAT  REQUESTS A SOCIAL WORKER SHALL BE
 SUBMITTED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY RESPONSIBLE FOR
 THE OPERATION OF SUCH SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AWARD TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR
 THE COMMISSIONER'S REVIEW AND APPROVAL, AFTER HAVING BEEN  REVIEWED  AND
 APPROVED  BY  THE  GOVERNING BOARD OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM OF WHICH
 SUCH PUBLIC LIBRARY IS A MEMBER. EACH SINGLE SOCIAL WORK SERVICES  AWARD
 APPLICATION REQUESTING A SOCIAL WORKER SHALL:
   A. DEMONSTRATE THAT RESOURCES ARE OR SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE FOR
 MAXIMUM UTILIZATION OF THE SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AWARD IF APPROVED;
   B.  DEMONSTRATE  THAT  SUCH  SOCIAL  WORK SERVICES AWARD WOULD ENHANCE
 COMMUNITY BUILDING AND EXPAND ACCESS TO SOCIAL SERVICES AS A CONSEQUENCE
 OF APPROVAL;
   C. BE LIMITED TO ONE  AWARD  CONCERNING  SUCH  SOCIAL  WORK  SERVICES,
 PROVIDED  THAT NO SINGLE PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING SHALL BE THE SUBJECT OF
 MORE THAN ONE SINGLE SUBMITTED OR APPROVED APPLICATION AT ONE TIME;
   D. CONTAIN DOCUMENTATION DEMONSTRATING HOW THE AWARD WILL ADDRESS  THE
 SERVICE  NEEDS  OF  ONE  OR MORE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
 SUCH DOCUMENTATION MAY DEMONSTRATE NEED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED  TO,
 POVERTY  RATES,  CONCENTRATIONS  OF  ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, LOW HIGH
 SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES,  LIMITED  FISCAL  CAPACITY  OR  OTHER  RELEVANT
 FACTORS; AND
   E.  PROVIDE  SUCH  OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE COMMIS-
 SIONER.
   4. EACH SINGLE SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AWARD APPLICATION  FOR  STATE  AID
 ALLOCATED  UNDER  THIS  SECTION THAT REQUESTS A SOCIAL WORKER SUPERVISOR
 SHALL BE SUBMITTED BY THE PUBLIC  LIBRARY  SYSTEM.  THE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY
 SYSTEM  SHALL  BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING ALL SOCIAL WORKER SUPERVISORS
 AND SHALL ENTER INTO COST SHARING AGREEMENTS WITH PUBLIC  LIBRARIES,  IF
 S. 5494                             3
 
 SUCH  AGREEMENT  WOULD  BE  EFFECTIVE  AND  BETTER  EFFECTUATE THE AWARD
 REQUIREMENTS AS DETAILED IN SUBDIVISIONS TWO AND THREE OF THIS  SECTION.
 EACH  AWARD  APPLICATION  REQUESTING  A  SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISOR SHALL BE
 APPROVED  BY  THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES OF EACH PARTICIPATING LIBRARY AND
 LIBRARY SYSTEM  RESPONSIBLE  FOR  THE  OPERATION  OF  SUCH  SOCIAL  WORK
 SERVICES  AWARD  APPLICATION.  SOCIAL  WORK  SERVICES AWARD APPLICATIONS
 REQUESTING A SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISOR SHALL BE SUBMITTED  TO  THE  COMMIS-
 SIONER  FOR  THE  COMMISSIONER'S  REVIEW AND APPROVAL, AFTER HAVING BEEN
 REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE  GOVERNING  BOARD  OF  THE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY
 SYSTEM  OF  WHICH  SUCH  LIBRARIES  ARE  MEMBERS. EACH SOCIAL WORK AWARD
 APPLICATION REQUESTING A SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISOR SHALL:
   A. DEMONSTRATE THAT RESOURCES ARE OR SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE FOR
 MAXIMUM UTILIZATION OF THE SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AWARD IF APPROVED;
   B. DEMONSTRATE THAT SUCH SOCIAL  WORK  SERVICES  AWARD  WOULD  ENHANCE
 COMMUNITY BUILDING AND EXPAND ACCESS TO SOCIAL SERVICES AS A CONSEQUENCE
 OF APPROVAL;
   C.  BE  LIMITED  TO  ONE  AWARD  CONCERNING SUCH SOCIAL WORK SERVICES,
 PROVIDED THAT NO SINGLE PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING SHALL BE THE SUBJECT  OF
 MORE THAN ONE SINGLE SUBMITTED OR APPROVED APPLICATION AT ONE TIME;
   D.  CONTAIN DOCUMENTATION DEMONSTRATING HOW THE AWARD WILL ADDRESS THE
 SERVICE NEEDS OF ONE OR  MORE  ECONOMICALLY  DISADVANTAGED  COMMUNITIES.
 SUCH  DOCUMENTATION MAY DEMONSTRATE NEED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
 POVERTY RATES, CONCENTRATIONS OF ENGLISH  LANGUAGE  LEARNERS,  LOW  HIGH
 SCHOOL  GRADUATION  RATES,  LIMITED  FISCAL  CAPACITY  OR OTHER RELEVANT
 FACTORS; AND
   E. PROVIDE SUCH OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED  BY  THE  COMMIS-
 SIONER.
   5.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL DETERMINE AWARD AMOUNTS, INCLUDING SALARY
 AND FRINGE BENEFIT PACKAGES, FOR SOCIAL WORKERS AND SOCIAL WORKER SUPER-
 VISORS BASED ON AVERAGE SALARIES PER REGION, FOR THE MAXIMUM  AWARD  PER
 LIBRARY AND LIBRARY SYSTEM FOR AWARDS THAT ARE APPLIED FOR AND APPROVED.
   6. A. PUBLIC LIBRARIES WITH APPROVED SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AWARDS SHALL
 ENSURE  THAT  SOCIAL  WORKERS  OPERATING  UNDER SUCH AWARD SHALL PERFORM
 SOCIAL WORK SERVICES FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT ATTEND  SUCH  PUBLIC
 LIBRARY.
   B.  PUBLIC  LIBRARY SYSTEMS WHO RECEIVE GRANT FUND AWARDS SHALL ENSURE
 THAT SOCIAL WORKER SUPERVISORS, EMPLOYED BY THE SYSTEM, OPERATING  UNDER
 SUCH  GRANT  AWARDS  SHALL  OVERSEE EVERY SOCIAL WORKER, EMPLOYED BY THE
 PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE JURISDICTION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM  THROUGH
 THE GRANT PROGRAM.
   7.  ANY  FUNDS  MADE AVAILABLE PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION WHICH BY APRIL
 FIRST OF EACH  SUCCEEDING  FISCAL  YEAR  ARE  DECLINED  BY  SUCH  PUBLIC
 LIBRARIES  OR  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  SYSTEMS  FOR  ANY REASON OR WHICH CANNOT
 OTHERWISE BE USED BY SUCH PUBLIC LIBRARIES OR PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEMS FOR
 ANY REASON, SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE BY THE COMMISSIONER TO OTHER  PUBLIC
 LIBRARIES  AND  PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEMS THAT ARE LOCATED IN OR CONTAIN AN
 ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY.
   8. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PRESIDENT  OF  THE
 STATE  CIVIL  SERVICE  COMMISSION,  IF  NECESSARY, ADOPT RULES AND REGU-
 LATIONS AS ARE NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE  PURPOSES  AND  PROVISIONS  OF
 THIS SECTION.
   9.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  SUBMIT TO THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE
 SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AN ANNUAL REPORT DESCRIBING THOSE
 SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AWARDS THAT HAVE RECEIVED  STATE  FUNDING  AND  THE
 COMMUNITIES  TO  BE  SERVED  BY  THOSE  AWARDS. SUCH ANNUAL REPORT SHALL
 INCLUDE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EACH APPROVED AWARD, THE NUMBER OF  PERSONS
 S. 5494                             4
 
 ASSISTED  BY AN AWARD'S SOCIAL WORK SERVICES, THE TYPE, SCOPE, AND PRAC-
 TICES OF SUCH SERVICES OFFERED BY EACH APPROVED  AWARD  AND  RECOMMENDA-
 TIONS  FOR  THE  EXPANSION  OF  THE  SOCIAL WORK SERVICES PROGRAM TO ALL
 PUBLIC  LIBRARIES  AND  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  SYSTEMS IN THE STATE, INCLUDING
 SPECIFIC ACTIONABLE ITEMS. THE COMMISSIONER  SHALL  REQUIRE  ALL  SOCIAL
 WORK  SERVICES  AWARDEES  TO  SUBMIT  TO THE DEPARTMENT SUCH INFORMATION
 NECESSARY FOR THE EFFECTUATION OF SUCH ANNUAL REPORT.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have  become  a  law and shall expire and be deemed repealed three years
 after such date.

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