What's happening
This bill allows New York taxpayers to make voluntary donations to support the state library system through a tax return check-off.
Why it matters
Creates a new way for taxpayers to directly support libraries. By allowing voluntary donations via tax returns, the bill enables individuals to easily contribute to a range of library services, including public libraries, research libraries, and specialized collections for the blind and visually handicapped.
Ensures donations supplement, not replace, state funding. The new funds must be used *in addition to* existing state library aid, preventing the legislature from reducing baseline funding and ensuring that donations result in increased resources rather than a funding swap.
Broadens support across multiple library systems. The bill directs contributions to a variety of library types and programs under the state library aid program, potentially improving access, resources, and services for diverse populations statewide.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Taxpayers Fund Libraries
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2430
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2017
Introduced by Sens. PARKER, PERSAUD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to authorizing a tax check-off for the state library system
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The tax law is amended by adding a new section 630-e to read as follows:
§ 630-e. Gifts for the state library system. Effective for any tax year commencing on or after January first, two thousand eighteen, an individual in any taxable year may elect to contribute to the state library aid program for financial support for public libraries and library systems, reference and research library resource systems, the New York public research libraries, the Schomburg collection and the library for the blind and visually handicapped. Such contribution shall be in any whole dollar amount and shall not reduce the amount of state tax owed by such individual. The commissioner shall include space on the personal income tax return to enable a taxpayer to make such contribution. Notwithstanding any other provision of law all revenues collected pursuant to this section shall be credited to the state library aid program and shall be used in addition to, not to supplant, existing funding under the state library aid program and used for only those purposes enumerated in section two hundred seventy-three of the education law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07690-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the tax law, in relation to authorizing a tax check-off for the state library system
Summary of provisions
Funding for the State Library Aid Program provides support for public libraries and library systems, reference and research library resource systems, the New York Public Research Libraries, the Schomburg Collection and the library for the Blind and Visually Handicapped. In addition, the aid program also provides special library incentives for academic libraries, health information and hospital libraries, institutional libraries and the preservation of library resources. The State Library Aid Program is designed to provide solid financial assistance to public libraries for the purposes of maintaining and improving the library services of the state. However, in recent years state funding for this program has remained relatively constant and has not kept pace for the real needs of New York's libraries. This legislation would bring additional annual revenue to the Library Aid Program by allowing tax payers the option to contribute to the State Library Aid Program via a "tax check off." Such contributions are to be made at the same time state taxes are filed. This check-off is similar to the "Gift to Wildlife" check-off that currently appears on the state personal income tax form. Because donations are made on a voluntary basis, this legislation will produce no financial hardship for any taxpayer, yet it will serve to significantly increase the amount of financial support for the State Library Aid Program.
Prior legislative history
2015-16: S.2886A - Amend and recommit to Investigations and Government Operations 2013-14: S.3235A - Investigations and Government Operations 2012: S.6207 - Investigations and Government Operations 2011: S.2312 - Investigations and Government Operations 2009-10: S.974 - Investigations and Government Operations
Fiscal implications
The State Tax Department reports that in fiscal years ending 3/31/88 and 3/31/89, approximately $1.7 million were generated annually for the "Gift to Wildlife." If this bill was enacted, it is to be assumed that the 'Gift to Libraries" would generate a similar amount.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.