Includes public library systems within the definition of entities that are eligible to apply for local government efficiency grants

2 Co-sponsors

• Liz Krueger
• George Latimer

BILL NUMBER:S3209

Title of bill

An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to the inclusion of library systems within the definition of entities that are eligible to apply for local government efficiency grants

Purpose

To add library systems to the list of organizations eligible for Local Government Efficiency Grants.

Summary of provisions

Section one adds library systems to the list of entities that are eligible to apply for Local Government Efficiency Grants.

Section two provides for the effective date, which is immediate.

Existing law

Existing law allows public libraries and association libraries the ability to apply for Local Government Efficiency Grants, however, library systems were left out of the statute.

Justification

In many locations within the state, particularly in large urban areas, public libraries and library systems are one and the same. In more rural areas of the state, library systems provide shared services for a number of small libraries.

When Local Government Efficiency Grants (LGEG) were created in 2008, as the successor to the Shared Municipal Services Incentive Grant program, the purpose of the program was to create incentives for cooperative activities which would reduce municipal expenses and property taxes.

When the law was written, public libraries and association libraries were defined as eligible to apply for a grant. Unfortunately, library associations were left out of the statute. This bill would rectify this problem by including library associations in the list of eligible entities for LGEG grants.

Legislative history

2014: S. 4858 - Referred to Finance.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediate.