LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Updated:
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Current Bills in the New Jersey State Legislature affecting libraries 2008-2009
FY 09 NEW JERSEY STATE BUDGET
In his FY09 State Budget Governor Jon Corzine recommended the following:
- 10%
cut in the State Per Capita Aid Program for public libraries from $8,665,000
to $7,798,500.
- $ 2 million for the NJ Knowledge Initiative
- $ 4,775,000 for the New Jersey
Library Network.
NJLA strongly opposes reductions in the state per capita aid program.
State funding for library services in the FY09 state budget is lower
than
it was in the FY89 budget- twenty years ago.
NEW JERSEY KNOWLEDGE INITIATIVE
NJLA Supports the passage of the following legislation.
- A2107 Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (District 15) would provide $ 1 million
to continue the Knowledge Initiative until June 2008. Additional prime
sponsors
are Assemblymen John Burzichelli; (District 3); Anthony Chiappone (District
31); Joseph Vas (District 19); Neil Cohen (District 20) and co-sponsors
are Assemblymen Thomas Giblin (District 34); L. Harvey Smith (District
31); Albert
Coutinho ( District 29); Patrick Diegnan (District 18);Douglas Fisher
(District 3); Assemblywomen Sheila Oliver (District 34);.Pamela Lampitt
(District 6);
and Connie Wagner (District 38). The bill has been assigned to the
Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Funding in the FY2008 state budget only
provided sufficient monies
to keep this program operation until Feb 28, 2008. Currently,
the program has been
suspended. However, the Governor’s budget for FY09 does
currently call for a $2 million allotment for NJKI to start
July 1, 2008.
The NJ State Library
will reconvene its NJKI task force in the near future to determine
the specifies of the next NJKI program.
For more information about funding for NJKI see:
http://www.njki.org/
LIBRARY FUNDING
NJLA supports the passage of the following legislation.
- A1139 (Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (District 14) and Assemblyman David
Russo (District 40). Removes appropriations for municipal library purposes
from the four percent municipal property tax levy cap.
- S881 Senator
Nia Gill District 34. Identical to A1139 to remover municipal library
purposes from the four percent municipal property tax levy
cap.
- A1265 Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, District 4. Additional co-sponsors were
Assemblymen David Russo, (District 40), Eric Munoz, (District 21)
Peter Biondi (District 16) and Assemblywomen Pamela Lampitt,( District 6) and
Sandra
Love,
(District 4.) Permits municipal board of library trustees to transfer
surplus funds to municipality for tax relief under certain conditions. Voted
on
by the full Assembly Feb.7, 2008. Final vote was 73-2-1. NJLA initially
opposed this legislation but worked with the sponsor to provide amendments
which will safeguard library funding.
- S429 Senator Jeff VanDrew (District 1)
Permits municipal board of library trustees to transfer surplus funds
to municipality for tax relief
under certain conditions. Senator VanDrew has indicated that he will accept
the
same amendments
as Assemblyman Moriarty. The bill is identical to A1265. Bill released
by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee March 6, 2007.
NJLA opposes the following legislation.
- S1306 Senator Paul Sarlo ( District
36) and Senator Steve Sweeney (District 3) Reduces municipal library
tax levy cap from 15% to 4%.
- A1567 Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (District
14) Reduces municipal library tax levy cap from 15% to 4%.
- A1981 Assemblyman
Eric Munoz District 21.Permits municipal board of library trustees to
reduce library tax rate when municipality acquires
new ratables.
CONSTRUCTION
- S650 Senator Paul Sarlo (District 36) and Senator John Girgenti
(District 35) Increases the maximum amount of bonds issued by the New
Jersey Educational Facilities Authority for the Public Library Project Fund
from $45
million
to $95 million to provide library construction and technology
grants. NJLA supports this legislation.
Co-sponsors are: Senator Ronald Rice (District 28); Senator Stephen
Sweeney (District 3) and Senator Barbara Buono (District 18).
Federal Legislation
USA PATRIOT ACT UPDATES
Links of Interest
CONTACT YOUR NEW JERSEY STATE LEGISLATORS
 Visit
the NJ
State Legislature for more information about proposed bills,
committee members and legislative schedules. You may also search
for your specific
state legislators.
CONTACT YOUR
NEW JERSEY FEDERAL LEGISLATORS
The
American Library Association has a Legislative Action Center that allows
you to find your national representatives
and easily write letters
to your
members of Congress. To contact your legislators see: http://capwiz.com/ala/home/
Advocacy Tools
The American Library Association has developed several online resources
to assist library advocates.
ALA Washington Office
Keep current with federal library issues by joining the ALA Washington
Office’s
Newsline called ALAWON. ALAWON is a free, irregular e-mail publication
of the ALA Washington Office.
Online Media Relations Tools
This site provides advocates with key talking points like the USA Patriot
Act, library funding and other pertinent topics.
Library Funding
This database contains short summaries of published news reports about
library funding cuts, fundraising and bond issues from around the
county. Started
in April 2004, this database is updated weekly.
Best Practices Web
Site
Real-world case histories of how libraries handled issues in their
community. Topics include library construction, fundraising, maintaining
and increasing
budget, and passing referenda. Users can sort by topic to see how
librarians have solved similar problems in their states; or by state,
to ascertain
topics important to their community.
Campaign for America’s
Libraries
The Campaign for America’s Libraries is a multi-year public education
and advocacy campaign sponsored by the American Library Association and
libraries across the country to speak loudly and clearly about the value
of libraries
and librarians in the 21st century. The campaign is designed to showcase
the unique and vital roles played by public, school, academic and special
libraries nationwid
Online Advocacy Action Kit
A collection of existing ALA advocacy materials, compiled into one online
location. Includes tips for talking to legislators, the public and the media,
how to mount an advocacy campaign and online resources for advocates.
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