2015 -- S 0705

========

LC002233

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LIBRARIES - STATE AID TO LIBRARIES

     Introduced By: Senators Crowley, Goodwin, and Nesselbush

     Date Introduced: March 18, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 29-6-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 29-6 entitled "State Aid to

Libraries" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     29-6-2. Public library services. -- (a) For each city or town, the state's share to support

local public library services shall be equal to at least twenty-five percent (25%) of both the

amount appropriated and expended in the second preceding fiscal year by the city or town from

local tax revenues and funds from the public library's private endowment that supplement the

municipal appropriation; provided, however, the state in any year shall not be obligated to match

any amount from the endowment that exceeds six percent (6%) of the three (3) year average

market value, calculated at the end of the calendar year, of the investments in the endowment. For

distressed communities, as defined in § 45-13-12, the state's share shall be supplemented by an

amount equal to that city or town's payment of the ocean state libraries (OSL) annual assessment

charges. The amount of the grant payable to each municipality in any year in accordance with this

section shall be reduced proportionately in the event that the total of those grants in any year

exceeds the amount appropriated that year for the purposes of this section. Provided further,

however, that the reference year for the state's share of support to be paid in the year ending June

30, 2008 shall be the third preceding year.

      (b) Those public libraries that do not qualify for aid pursuant to the provisions of

subsection (a) of this section may apply for resource sharing grants, to be used exclusively for the

purpose of payment of the ocean state libraries (OSL) annual assessment charges. Eligible public

libraries shall apply directly to the office of library and information services for these resource

sharing grants, and the grants shall be awarded to the libraries individually, rather than to the city

or town. Eligible libraries must be or become members of the OSL upon receipt of the grant,

serve municipalities that meet minimum standards for Rhode Island public libraries, and meet

standards for member libraries of the library of Rhode Island (LORI) network.

      (c) Provided, that notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter to the contrary,

the state's share to support local public library services shall also include funding to the Pontiac

Free Library in the city of Warwick for said library's participation in the ocean state libraries

(OSL). Such funding shall be provided regardless of whether the city of Warwick appropriates

funds from local tax revenues to said library. The amount of said state support shall be equal to

the average of the amount appropriated by the city of Warwick to each library in said

municipality for participation in the OSL program, in accordance with the provisions of and

formulas set forth in subsection (a) herein. Provided, further, that in the event the city of Warwick

appropriates funds from local tax revenues for the Pontiac Free Library, then the amount of the

state's share to said library shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a)

herein for any year in which such calculation is applicable.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC002233

========

LC002233 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LIBRARIES - STATE AID TO LIBRARIES

***

     This act would increase the state's share to support local public library services in

distressed communities, by an amount equal to the amount paid by the distressed city or town into

the ocean state libraries (OSL) annual assessment charges.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC002233

========

LC002233 - Page 3 of 3