A 6961: Authorizes the creation of a study to examine public library aid formulas and library construction formulas and the criteria to be used for such study.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6961 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY March 18, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. CHLUDZINSKI, RA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Libraries and Education Technology AN ACT in relation to establishing a comprehensive study examining public library aid formulas and library construction formulas The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Public library aid and public library construction aid 2 formulas study. The commissioner of education shall enter into a 3 contract with a third-party entity to conduct a comprehensive study of 4 the public library aid and public library construction aid formulas. The 5 contracted entity, in consultation with the department of education, the 6 division of budget and any other state agencies deemed necessary, shall 7 examine, evaluate, and recommend potential modifications to the calcu- 8 lation of public library aid formulas pursuant to sections 271, 273, 284 9 and 285 of the education law and the public library construction aid 10 formula pursuant to section 273-a of the education law. The contracted 11 entity shall gather and consider feedback from a broad range of stake- 12 holders, including but not limited to library systems, library adminis- 13 trators, library boards, municipal officials, school districts, and 14 library organizations. The contracted entity shall hold at least three 15 public hearings across the state to gather input from such stakeholders. 16 § 2. The results, findings, and recommendations of the study shall be 17 for study purposes only and shall not be considered binding upon the 18 executive or the legislature in any manner. 19 § 3. The study shall evaluate each component of the current public 20 library aid and public library construction aid formulas and other rele- 21 vant factors including but not limited to: 22 (a) whether the formulas ensure adequate and equitable funding for all 23 library systems; 24 (b) per capita aid calculations and their responsiveness to inflation 25 and population changes; EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD08812-01-5 
 A. 6961 2 1 (c) maintenance of effort requirements for municipalities; 2 (d) outstanding capital improvement needs; 3 (e) technology access; and 4 (f) library operating aid and library construction aid funding models 5 used in other states. 6 § 4. No later than one year following the effective date of this act, 7 the contracted entity shall submit a report of its findings and recom- 8 mendations to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the 9 minority leader of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the 10 minority leader of the assembly. The report shall also be published on 11 the contracted entity's public website and disseminated to all public 12 library systems in the state. 13 § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.