Relates to conducting a study on the access of state public libraries and library systems to capital funding; provides the department of education, in consultation with the dormitory authority, the office of the state comptroller, and the public library systems of the state, shall assess and report on the capital needs of such public library systems, including public libraries and association libraries.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5525A
SPONSOR: Simon (MS) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to conducting a study on
the access of state public libraries and library systems to capital
funding
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This legislation would require the Commissioner of the State Education
Department, in consultation with the dormitory authority, the office of
the state comptroller, and the public library systems of the state to
complete a study on the capital needs of libraries and library systems
in New York State.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
This legislation would require the Commissioner of the State Education
Department, in consultation with the dormitory authority, the office of
the state comptroller, and the public library systems of the state to
conduct a study and identify current options available to libraries for
financing capital projects along with their projected needs over a five
year period. Additionally, such study shall identify any special needs,
barriers to accessing financing and options for financing for public
libraries serving communities with populations of less than seventy-five
hundred. The legislation would require such study and recommendations to
be provided to the Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly, the Temporary
President of the Senate, the Chair of the Assembly Libraries and Educa-
tion Technology Committee and the Chair of the Senate Select Committee
on Libraries.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINLAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE:
The A-print provides technical amendments.
JUSTIFICATION:
New York State's public libraries are rapidly aging. More than 48% of
local libraries are over 60 years old and an additional 33% are over 30
years old. Failure to adequately fund local libraries' capital needs
falls disproportionately on communities with diminished economic
resources the lack of investment has forced the sale of some public
libraries. Additionally, libraries in economically disadvantaged commu-
nities cannot afford basic investment in energy-efficient upgrades and
increased operating costs have forced shorter hours, reduced staffing,
and reduced programming. Public libraries remain unable to accommodate
advances in technological infrastructure, make investments in energy
efficiency, or increase access for persons with disabilities due to the
lack of access to capital financing. The purpose of this study is to
identify and provide recommendations for the improvement of access to
capital funding to our public libraries and public library system.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: A7965 Simon S1418 Comrie -referred to libraries and education
technology
2021-2022: A92 -referred to libraries and education technology
2019-2020: A0792 referred to Libraries and Education Technology
2017-2018: A7630 passed Assembly
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE:
this act shall take effect immediately
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5525--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 14, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SIMON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. OTIS --
read once and referred to the Committee on Libraries and Education
Technology -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to conducting a study on
the access of state public libraries and library systems to capital
funding
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 273-a of the education law is amended by adding a
2 new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
3 9. There shall be a study conducted relating to the access of state
4 public libraries and library systems to capital funding.
5 a. The department, in consultation with the dormitory authority, the
6 office of the state comptroller, and the public library systems of the
7 state, shall assess and report on the capital needs of such public
8 library systems, including public libraries and association libraries.
9 Such study shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
10 (1) identification of current options available to libraries and
11 library systems for financing capital projects;
12 (2) the projected capital needs of libraries and library systems over
13 a five year period;
14 (3) identification of alternative options for libraries and library
15 systems to finance capital projects;
16 (4) information related to dormitory authority financing of public
17 libraries and public library systems in the past ten years including but
18 not limited to: the total number of public libraries and library systems
19 that have applied for dormitory authority financing; what percentage of
20 public libraries and library systems are denied funding from the dormi-
21 tory authority and the reasons for such denials; the total cost of the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05012-02-5
A. 5525--A 2
1 proposed projects; and the amount of financing provided for the projects
2 and the number of project applications submitted each year;
3 (5) identification of special needs, barriers to accessing financing
4 and options for financing for public libraries; and
5 (6) recommendations for the improvement of access to capital funding
6 for public libraries and library systems.
7 b. For the purposes of this subdivision, the term "public library"
8 shall have the same meaning as in subdivision thirty-two of section
9 sixteen hundred seventy-six of public authorities law.
10 c. The study required by this subdivision shall be completed by Janu-
11 ary first, two thousand twenty-seven. The findings of such study shall
12 be provided to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, the temporary
13 president of the senate, the chair of the assembly libraries and educa-
14 tion technology committee, and the chair of the senate committee on
15 libraries. The findings of such study shall also be posted on the New
16 York state library's website.
17 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
