Relates to maintenance of effort for state aid to public library systems

15 Co-sponsors

• Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
• Tony Avella
• John J. Bonacic
• David Carlucci
• John A. DeFrancisco
• Mark Grisanti
• William J. Larkin Jr.
• Jack M. Martins
• George D. Maziarz
• Michael F. Nozzolio
• Michael H. Ranzenhofer
• Patty Ritchie
• James L. Seward
• David J. Valesky
• Lee M. Zeldin

BILL NUMBER:S2857B

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to maintenance of effort for state aid to public library systems

Purpose

The purpose of this bill is to amend Education Law 272 so as to protect library services by providing some increased flexibility in the granting of a waiver in relation to maintenance of effort provisions for state aid to public library systems and central libraries.

Summary of provisions

Section one of this bill would amend subparagraph 3 of paragraph j of subdivision 1 of Education Law 272 to authorize the Commissioner of Education to grant a waiver from the maintenance of effort requirement to a public library system or central library for up to three consecutive years (instead of two).

Section two provides the effective date.

Justification

The proposed amendments to Education Law 272 will enable New York State's network of twenty three state-supported public library systems to continue to meet the need for library services in 2014 and beyond despite continued economic challenges and natural disasters impacting local communities, local governments and school districts.

The proposed amendments in this bill will continue the existing waiver process that acknowledges that some local governments may from time to time face a natural disaster such as Tropical Storm Irene or Superstorm Sandy, or other extraordinary changes in local economic conditions, or loss of state aid to local governments that negatively impacts their ability to fund local programs and services, including libraries.

The amendments to Education Law 272 will provide the Commissioner with some increased flexibility in granting a waiver from maintenance of effort requirements on a public library system or central library, based on local conditions. Depending on the local situation, the Commissioner would have the authority to grant a waiver for a period of up to three consecutive calendar years. There would be no limit placed on the number of waivers that the Commissioner could grant. All waivers granted by the Commissioner of Education would continue to be reported to the Assembly, Senate and Division of the Budget.

Legislative history

This bill is similar to a provision which was in S. 7238 of 2012 which passed the Senate 60-0. In 2013, bill S. 2857-A passed the Senate 61-0.

Fiscal implications

There are no budgetary implications for the State.

Effective date

Immediately.