What's happening
This bill allows individuals and corporations to make voluntary contributions to the "love your library fund" through their New York State tax returns.
Why it matters
Allows both individuals and corporations to directly support New York’s public libraries. by making voluntary contributions via their state personal or corporate tax returns, potentially increasing funding for library services without raising taxes.
Contributions do not reduce tax liability. , making this a true charitable gift rather than a tax credit or deduction, which underscores the voluntary nature and ensures state tax revenues are unaffected.
Creates a new, consistent funding stream for the "love your library fund,". adding to existing sources like specialty license plate fees and appropriations, which could help libraries address ongoing needs such as technology, programming, and capital improvements.
Signals public and legislative support for libraries as essential community resources,. possibly encouraging more civic engagement and awareness around library funding issues.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Donate to Libraries on Taxes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3268
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 20, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- 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 and the state finance law, in relation to the love your library fund
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 209-K to read as follows:
§ 209-K. Gift to the love your library fund. Effective for any tax year commencing on or after January first, two thousand eighteen, a taxpayer in any taxable year may elect to contribute to the love your library fund. Such contribution shall be in any whole dollar amount and shall not reduce the amount of the state tax owed by such taxpayer. The commissioner shall include space on the corporate 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 love your library fund and shall be used only for those purposes enumerated in section ninety-nine-l of the state finance law, as added by chapter three hundred three of the laws of two thousand four.
§ 2. The tax law is amended by adding a new section 630-e to read as follows:
§ 630-e. Gift to the love your library fund. 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 love your library fund. 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02413-01-7
S. 3268 2
be credited to the love your library fund and used only for those purposes enumerated in section ninety-nine-l of the state finance law, as added by chapter three hundred three of the laws of two thousand four.
§ 3. Subdivision 2 of section 99-l of the state finance law, as added by chapter 303 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
2. Such fund shall consist of all revenues received by the department of motor vehicles pursuant to section four hundred four-v of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter three hundred three of the laws of two thousand four, all the revenues received by the department of taxation and finance pursuant to sections two hundred nine-K and six hundred thirty-e of the tax law and all other moneys appropriated, credited, or transferred thereto from any other fund or source pursuant to law.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 and the state finance law, in relation to the love your library fund
Purpose
To raise the visibility and public's awareness of libraries, and create an additional revenue source for funding of summer reading programs in libraries.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the Tax Law by adding a new Section 209-I authorizing corporate income taxpayers to contribute to the love your library fund. The contribution can be in any whole dollar amount and shall not reduce the amount of state tax paid. The Commissioner shall include space on the corporate income tax return to enable taxpayers to make these contributions. All revenues thus collected shall be credited to the love your library fund and shall be used only for purposes enumerated in Section 99-4 of the State Finance Law.
Section 2 amends the Tax Law by adding a new Section 630-d with equivalent provisions for personal income taxpayers.
Section 3 amends section 99-1 of the State Finance Law by directing funds generated as a result of these amendments to the Tax law into the "Love Your Library Fund".
Justification
The New York Library Association reports that over 51% of New York's citizens are registered library users. Marist College polls also report that 57% of those polled believe that having a library in their local community is very valuable, while 62% of those polled support an increase of taxes to support library services in their community.
Citizens view libraries as a valuable resource, and this legislation provides a new way for individuals to support increased library funding.
Summer reading programs now reach over 900,000 New York children each summer, keeping their reading skills from deteriorating while school is not in session. The grants that will be made from the "love your library fund" will support these programs. Moneys will be allocated with attention to geographic diversity as well as population served.
Legislative history
2015-16: S. 3890 - Referred to Investigations and Gov't Operations 2013-14: S.1579A - Referred to Investigations And Gov't Operations 2011-12: S.3032A/A.7044A - Passed Assembly; Referred to Invest. and Gov't Ops 2009-10: S.7551/A.7253 - Veto Memo 6754
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.