2017 -- S 0035

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LIBRARIES -- STATE AID TO LIBRARIES

     

     Introduced By: Senator Elizabeth A. Crowley

     Date Introduced: January 18, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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Libraries" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     29-6-2. Public library services.

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     (a) For each city or town, the state's share to support local public library services shall be

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equal to at least twenty-five percent (25%) of both the amount appropriated and expended in the

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second preceding fiscal year by the city or town from local tax revenues and funds from the

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public library's private endowment that supplement the municipal appropriation; provided,

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however, the state in any year shall not be obligated to match any amount from the endowment

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that exceeds six percent (6%) of the three-year (3) average market value, calculated at the end of

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the calendar year, of the investments in the endowment. For distressed communities, as defined in

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ยง45-13-12, the state's share shall be supplemented by an amount equal to that city or town's

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payment of the ocean state libraries (OSL) annual assessment charges. The amount of the grant

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payable to each municipality in any year in accordance with this section shall be reduced

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proportionately in the event that the total of those grants in any year exceeds the amount

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

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reference year for the state's share of support to be paid in the year ending June 30, 2008 shall be

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the third preceding year.

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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for any year in which such calculation is applicable.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LIBRARIES -- STATE AID TO LIBRARIES

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

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

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the ocean state libraries (OSL) annual assessment charges.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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