S2018-2013 Actions

• Apr 18, 2013: PRINT NUMBER 2018A
• Apr 18, 2013: AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO EDUCATION
• Jan 9, 2013: REFERRED TO EDUCATION

S2018-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S2018

TITLE  OF  BILL:    An  act  to  amend the education law, in relation to
requiring school districts to distribute  to  students  in  each  school
building  written information about the public library and how to obtain
a library card

PURPOSE:  This bill expands access to the New York State public  library
system by requiring school districts to distribute informational materi-
al  to  students  entering  certain  grade  levels and students new to a
particular school and to keep such materials available at all times in a
school's library.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:  This bill amends the Education Law by  adding  a
new  section  816  relating  to requiring school districts to distribute
information on obtaining a library card and a library  card  application
to all students.

Section  1  adds  a new section 816 to the Education Law with subsection
(1) that defines key terms.

Subsection (2) requires that school districts disseminate  informational
materials  about  the public library. Such information is to be provided
by the local library to each school for distribution  to  students  upon
his/her entry into kindergarten grade 6, 9 and to all new students.

Subsection  (3) requires that school districts consult with the director
of each public library located  within  the  boundaries  of  the  school
district.

Subsection  (4)  requires  that the local public library provides suffi-
cient materials to each school.

Subsection (5) waives compliance for school districts that do  not  have
public libraries within their boundaries.

Subsection  (6)  allows  the  commissioner  to establish rules and regu-
lations to implement these provisions.

Subsection (7) states  nothing  in  this  act  shall  require  a  school
district  to  expend  additional  funds  in  order  to  comply  with the
provisions of this section.

Section 2 provides the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:  A public library card provides students with a  passport
to  the world, allowing them to explore the limits of their own imagina-
tion.  Ensuring that every students has access to our  public  libraries
is a crucial first step in developing a lifelong connection with some of
New  York's greatest resources. This bill expands learning opportunities
by requiring that the Department of Education distribute an  application
for  a  library  card,  as  well as information about the State's public

library systems to every kindergarten, sixth  grader,  and  high  school
freshman  as well as all new students. The bill also ensures that appli-
cations and information on the public library  system  are  provided  in
sufficient  quantities  and made available to students and parents alike
in the school's library.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: S.4174-A of 2012

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act shall take effect  on  the  next  September  1
succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.

S2018-2013 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                         2018
 2013-2014 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 (PREFILED)
 January 9, 2013
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  FARLEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 

AN ACT to amend the education  law,  in  relation  to  requiring  school
 districts  to  distribute  to students in each school building written
 information about the public library and how to obtain a library card
 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 816 to
 read as follows:

 

S  816.  DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC LIBRARY CARD APPLICATION MATERIALS. 1.
 DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL
 BE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

 A. "SCHOOL DISTRICT" SHALL MEAN ANY  PUBLIC  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  IN  THE
 STATE OF NEW YORK THAT CONTAINS ONE OR MORE SCHOOLS WITH ANY COMBINATION
 OF  GRADES FROM AND INCLUDING KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWELVE WHICH IS
 LOCATED OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY.
 B. "PUBLIC LIBRARY" SHALL MEAN ANY PUBLIC OR  ASSOCIATION  LIBRARY  AS
 DEFINED IN SECTION TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE OF THIS TITLE WHICH IS LOCATED
 OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY.
 2. EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATIONAL
 MATERIALS  ABOUT  THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND APPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY
 CARDS TO STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS FOLLOWS:

 A. ANNUALLY TO EVERY STUDENT OF SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT UPON HIS  OR  HER
 ENTRY INTO KINDERGARTEN, GRADE SIX AND GRADE NINE;
 B. TO EVERY STUDENT UPON HIS OR HER ENROLLMENT AS A NEW STUDENT; AND
 C.  AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY IN EACH SCHOOL WITHIN
 THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS WHO  WISH  TO  OBTAIN  SUCH
 MATERIALS.
 3.  EACH  SCHOOL  DISTRICT SHALL CONSULT ANNUALLY WITH THE DIRECTOR OF
 EACH PUBLIC LIBRARY LOCATED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD00118-01-3
 
       S. 2018                             2
 IN ORDER TO REQUEST COPIES OF MATERIALS CONTAINING INFORMATION REGARDING
 THE LIBRARY, INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW STUDENTS MAY OBTAIN A LIBRARY CARD  AND
 AN APPLICATION FOR A LIBRARY CARD.
 4.  EACH  PUBLIC  LIBRARY THAT IS LOCATED IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL
 PROVIDE SUFFICIENT COPIES OF SUCH MATERIALS TO THE SCHOOL  DISTRICT  FOR
 DISTRIBUTION  AS  DESCRIBED  IN  SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION SO THAT
 EACH SCHOOL MAY SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION.
 5. IN THE EVENT THERE IS NO PUBLIC LIBRARY LOCATED WITHIN THE  BOUNDA
 RIES OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT, SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO
 COMPLY WITH THIS SECTION.
 6.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH RULES AND
 REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
 7. NOTHING IN THIS ACT SHALL REQUIRE A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO EXPEND ADDI
 TIONAL FUNDS IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
 

S 2. This act shall  take  effect  on  the  first  of  September  next
 succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.

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