S 5989: Requires school districts to establish a method by which a parent may request a local library card for their minor child on the school registration form.
The law aims to promote a partnership between local libraries and schools to encourage children to read and learn outside the classroom. To achieve this, parents or guardians of minors enrolled in full-time kindergarten can opt to have their child receive a library card. Public libraries can provide materials to students in the school district, which must be distributed to students upon their entry into grade one, six, and nine, and upon enrollment as a new student. The director of each participating public library must consult annually with the school district to coordinate the provision of library materials. The law does not require schools or libraries to expend additional funds to comply with its provisions. The law also allows for the commissioner to establish rules and regulations to implement its provisions.
- What is the current status of S 5989?
- As of May 19, 2026, S 5989 is recorded as "Passed first house": it has passed the chamber it started in and is now before the second chamber. The last recorded action, on May 18, 2026, was "referred to libraries and education technology".
- Did S 5989 pass?
- Not yet. S 5989 has passed its house of origin and is now before the second chamber, where it needs committee approval and a floor vote.
- Who wrote S 5989, and where is it now?
- S 5989 was authored by Sen. Siela Bynoe with 2 coauthors. Its committee of record is Assembly Libraries & Education Technology. It is filed under EDN, alongside 312 other New York EDN bills this session.
| May. 18, 2026 | referred to libraries and education technology |
| May. 18, 2026 | DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY |
| May. 18, 2026 | PASSED SENATE |
| May. 14, 2026 | ADVANCED TO THIRD READING |
| May. 13, 2026 | 2ND REPORT CAL. |
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5989 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE March 4, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. BYNOE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Libraries AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to library cards issued to minors The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 3205 of the education law is amended by adding a 2 new subdivision 4 to read as follows: 3 4. Upon registration of a minor to attend full time instruction pursu- 4 ant to this section, parents shall check a space on such registration 5 authorizing such minor to receive a library card from the respective 6 local library. The regents shall establish a method by which a parent 7 may request a library card for their minor on the school registration 8 form. 9 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after 10 it shall have become a law. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD08557-01-5