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:

     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-year (3) 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). 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)

for any year in which such calculation is applicable.

     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

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.

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