Library Legislation in New York State: 2011 Chapters

2011 Law Relating to State Funding for Libraries
Chapter 2	A.2289/S.2026, Nolan (A) / Flanagan (S)	Relates to the apportionment of 2010-2011 state aid for libraries, provides one-time authority for supplementary system operating aid for 2010-2011 and amends Education Law 272 (1)(j) to extend the authority of the commissioner of education to grant waivers from maintenance of effort requirements for public library systems and central libraries through January 1, 2015.
Chapter 53	S.2803-E/A.4003-E, Budget [Aid to Localities Budget Bill]	Summary: Provides a local assistance appropriation for 2011-2012 Library Aid of $79,012,000.
Chapter 50	S.2800-E/A.4000-E, Budget [State Operations Budget Bill]	Provides an appropriation of $542,000 for 2011-2012 to the State Education Department for the New York State Library for the conservation / preservation program (Education Law 273(7)) and the Talking Book Braille Library (Education Law 273(8)). Also provides an appropriation of $331,400 for 2011-2012 to the State University of New York for the library conservation / preservation program (Education Law 273(7)).
Chapter 54	S.2804-D/A4004-D, Budget [Capital Projects Budget]	Provides a $14,000,000 capital appropriation for 2011-2014 grants for public library construction, renovation and rehabilitation (Education Law 273-a).
Chapter 58	S.2808-D/A.4008-D, Budget [Article 7 Legislative Language - Education, Labor, and Family Assistance Article VII Legislation]	Made Permanent in Ed Law – Supplemental Library System Operating Aid Formula Aid. Summary: Amends Education Law 273 (12)to annualize in statute the supplemental library system operating aid for public library systems, reference and research library resources systems and school library systems. Library Aid Allocations – Hold Harmless to 2001-2002 and Proportionate Reductions. Summary: States that funds appropriated for the support of public libraries by the chapter of the laws of 2011 will be apportioned for the 2011-2012 state fiscal year. Libraries, library systems and programs will not received less aid than they were provided in 2001-2002, and the total amount of aid will not exceed the total appropriations. 2011-2012 Public Library Construction Capital Funds. Summary: Amends the Public Protection Law and section 1689-I of the Public Authorities Law, authorizing the dormitory authority to issue bonds to finance library construction projects. School Library Materials Aid, Software and Computer Hardware Aid. Summary: Amends section 711 of the education law, so that school districts may use software aid (751) and computer hardware aid (753) to purchase school library materials that are eligible for purchase under 711. School library materials aid may not, however, be used to purchase software or computer hardware.
Chapter 62	S.2812/A.4012, Budget [Merge State Entities Legislation]	Conditions Under Which Library Systems are Entitled to State Aid. Summary: Amends Education Law 272 to update the name of the "state department of corrections" to the "state department of corrections and community supervision."
Chapter 498	S.4101-A/A.113-A, Farley (S) / Paulin (A)	An act to amend Education Law 273-a, in relation to the public library construction grant program. Funds may now be used to acquire vacant land. Approved projects serving economically disadvantaged communities may be funded up to seventy-five percent of eligible project costs. Provisions will take effect in 2012 and will be repealed in 2015.
2011 Law Relating to Libraries
Chapter 261	S.5244:A.6839, Nolan (A) / McDonald (S)	This bill amends Section 249 of the Education Law. It requires the New York State Library to be open for at least eight hours each day on five days every week of the year except for specified legal holidays. Previously the State Library was required to be open Monday through Friday.
Chapter 388	S.5844: A.8510, Cahill (A) / Maziarz (S)	An act to amend the public service law, the public authorities law, the real property law, the state finance law, and the environmental conservation law, in relation to establishing the Power NY Act of 2011. Power NY is related to the "Green Jobs/Green New York" program which was added by chapter 487 of the laws of 2009. It reauthorizes and modernizes Article X, Section 164 of the Public Service Law, regarding siting of major electric generating facilities. This bill requires public libraries serving the district of each member of the state legislature in whose district any portion of the facility is to be located as proposed or in any alternative location listed, to provide copies of applications for the construction and operation of major electric generating facilities to the public. This includes information on the potential impact of the facility on the environment, health and safety of the surrounding communities and would also identify any alternative locations for the proposed facility. The act recognizes public libraries as centers for dissemination of information to their local communities.
Vetoed Memo: 45 [39k]	S.3736:A.5181, Alesi (S) / Schimminger (A)	Enacts the (ARIA) under the Department of Economic Development. ARIA leverages New York State's public and private higher education sector, the largest and most diverse in the nation, to implement a cost-effective information infrastructure for research, scholarship, and innovation in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. When implemented, ARIA will lower costs for higher education and small business, expand access to cutting-edge research, and support economically beneficial innovation and entrepreneurialism. This bill will allow libraries to collaborate through the Department of Economic Development when purchasing expensive math, science and technology online resources, which will reduce costs.
Vetoed Memo 78	S.4991-B/A.8202, Hannon (S) / Bing (A)	Establishes the Clinical Information Resource Access Program (CIRA) to provide information to medical institutions and facilities. Under the program, electing institutions and universities will participate in the program with the Health Department, who will, in conjunction with the board of regents and board of trustees of the state university, contract on behalf of the participating universities and institutions for electronic and print resources on medical information related to clinical practice. This will allow libraries to collaborate in the purchase of medical materials in order to reduce costs.
2011 Law Relating to Public Library Districts
Chapter 533	S.5481-A/A.8068-A, Griffo (S) / Russell (A)	Creates the Norwood Public Library, a public library district including the areas of the towns of Potsdam and Stockholm that lie within the Norwood-Norfolk school district.
Vetoed Memo: 31	S.3605/A.587, Carlucci (S) / Jaffee (A)	Amends Chapter 349 of the Laws of 1973, special legislation concerning the organization and funding of the Orangetown public library district.
2011 Other Law Impacting Libraries
Chapter 97	A.8518/S.5856, Lopez (A) / Skelos (S)	Enacts major components of legislation relating to real property tax levies, rent regulation, exemption from local taxation and mandate relief.

Last Updated: September 29, 2011 -- asm; for questions or comments contact Barbara Lilley