BILL NUMBER:  S948

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the education law, in relation to allocation of state
aid for school library systems affected by BOCES mergers


 PURPOSE :

This bill would expand the provisions of Chapter 654 of the Laws of
2007 by providing enhanced merger incentive aid to the school library
systems which have already merged, as well as to systems which may
merge in the future.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Amends section 284 of the Education Law, as amended by Chapter 654 of
the Laws of 2007, to provide enhanced merger incentive aid to school
library systems which merged after 1984, or which may merge in the
future.

 EXISTING LAW :

Current law applies the enhanced aid only to school library systems
which merge after April 1, 2008, and holds the currently merged
              

systems at their 1986 level of aid.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Under the current school library system aid formula, each school
library system receives a base State aid grant, now ranging from
$83,000 to $123,000. If two systems merge, one base grant is lost,
creating a financial disincentive for mergers. Merger incentive aid is
intended to overcome this problem. When established in 1986, these
grants were fixed at $50,000. Over the past 22 years, total State aid
for libraries has increased from $70 million to $102 million, but the
merger incentive grants have remained unchanged. A 2007 law increased
the incentive aid for future mergers to $90,000, but left aid for the
seven existing merged systems at the 1986 level.

Continued failure to update this aid level sends a negative message to
school library systems, as well as to other local governments and
agencies which may be contemplating mergers.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

S.6998/A.10348 of 2008, Passed Senate

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

$280,000 per year.

 LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
Immediately.