Library Law and Regulations

Amends Education Law to reduce the threshold number of signatures candidates must collect for nominating petitions for library boards of trustees and school boards in the 2021 election cycle. Also reduces the number of petition signatures needed for municipal ballot propositions for public and association libraries. Takes effect immediately and expires on December 31, 2021. Signed by Governor, 3/7/2021.

Authorizes political subdivisions to permit any public body to hold meetings remotely and without in-person access during the COVID-19 state disaster emergency, provided that the public has the ability to view or listen, and that such meetings are recorded and later transcribed (Part E). Takes effect immediately and expires January 15, 2022. Signed by Governor, 9/2/2021.

Library Trustee Education: amends Education Law to add a new section 260-d requiring all trustees of public, association and Indian libraries to attend two hours of trustee education annually. Signed by Governor, 10/8/2021.

Amends the public officers law to require documents to be discussed at open meetings be made available upon request or posted on the public body's website at least 24 hours prior to such open meeting. Signed by Governor, 10/19/2021.

NYS Personal Income Tax Check-off for Library Aid Programs: amends Tax Law to add a new section 630-I providing a new check-off on income tax forms for gifts supporting all of the library programs funded under the provisions of Education Law 273. Signed by Governor, 10/25/2021.

School District Charge-backs to Libraries: Amends Real Property Tax Law 726(1)(c) to provide for a charge-back of refunds of taxes levied by a school district not only to school district public libraries, but also now to association libraries, municipal public libraries and special legislative district public libraries. Signed by Governor, 10/25/2021.

Uniondale Public Library District: Amends Chapter 1017 of the Laws of 1963 related to public participation in the election process. Signed by Governor, 10/25/2021

Amends various laws, including Education Law 273 and 285, to replace all instances of the words or variations of the words "inmate" or "inmates" with the phrases "incarcerated individual" or "incarcerated individuals." Signed by Governor, 8/2/2021.

Streamline and Modernize Library Aid Programs: no-cost technical amendments to Education Law 273 simplifying complex funding formulas for certain programs. Also amends Education Law 273-a (State Aid for Library Construction) to extend the time allowed for project completion to four (4) years. Signed by Governor, 11/3/2021.

Provides that no more than fifty percent of the total funds appropriated to a library system may be used to support the total costs for projects receiving state aid in excess of seventy-five percent of the total approved costs. Signed by Governor, 11/15/2021.

State Operations Budget Bill: includes an appropriation of $693,000 in state operations funds for the New York State Library for Conservation/Preservation and the Talking Book and Braille Library and $350,000 in state operations funds for the State University of New York for the Conservation/Preservation Statutory Aid Program. Signed by Governor, 4/15/2020

Aid to Localities Bill: includes an appropriation of $94.127 million for Library Aid in local assistance funds. Signed by Governor, 4/15/2020

Capital Projects Budget Bill: includes an appropriation of $14 million in capital funds for the State Aid for Library Construction Program (Education Law 273- a). Signed by Governor, 4/15/2020

Education, Labor and Family Assistance Bill: includes article VII language for the State support of libraries in that no library, library system or program shall receive less total system or program aid than it received in the year 2001-2002, except as a result of necessary reduction adjustments. Signed by Governor, 4/03/2020

Amends Education Law 273-a State Aid for Library Construction to provide libraries and library systems with construction projects commencing July 1, 2017 through July 1, 2019 an additional twelve months from the statutory project end date to complete such projects. Signed by Governor, 6/17/2020.

Amends Chapter 672 of the laws of 1993, amending the public authorities law relating to the construction and financing of facilities for certain public libraries, in relation to including the Victor Farmington Library within the provisions of such chapter. Authorizes the provision of financing by the dormitory authority to the Victor Farmington Library. Signed by Governor, 8/24/2020.

Directs the commissioner of education to study the frequency of residents who are being assessed library taxes for more than one library district and make recommendations to prevent the double taxation of residents. Vetoed by Governor, 11/25/19

State Operations Budget Bill: includes an appropriation of $693,000 in state operations funds for the New York State Library for Conservation/Preservation and the Talking Book and Braille Library and $350,000 in state operations funds for the State University of New York for the Conservation/Preservation Statutory Aid Program. Signed by Governor, 4/12/19

Local Assistance Bill: includes an appropriation of $96.627 million for Library Aid in local assistance funds. Signed by Governor, 4/12/19

Capital Projects Budget Bill: includes an appropriation of $14 million in capital funds for the State Aid for Library Construction Program (Education Law 273- a). Signed by Governor, 4/12/19

Revenue Bill: includes article VII language for the State support of libraries in that no library, library system or program shall receive less total system or program aid than it received in the year 2001-2002, except as a result of necessary reduction adjustments. Signed by Governor, 4/12/19

Amends Chapter 54 of the Laws of 2019, the Capital Projects Budget Bill, to add an additional appropriation of $20 million in capital funds for the State Aid for Library Construction Program, increasing the FY2019/2020 appropriation from $14 million to a total of $34 million. Signed by Governor 9/13/19

Extends the provisions of Chapter 498 of the Laws of 2011 relating to the State Aid for Library Construction Program until March 31st, 2023. Signed by Governor 8/29/19

Amends Education Law 273-a State Aid for Library Construction to allow for State funding of up to 90% of the project costs for buildings of public and association libraries that are located in economically distressed communities. Signed by Governor 10/22/19

Amends Education Law 273-a State Aid for Library Construction to allow public library systems to submit coordinated project applications. Signed by Governor 10/23/19