Senate Bill S7374

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S7374

SPONSOR: RITCHIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the tax law, in relation to granting a sales and compen-
sating use tax exemption for goods sold by libraries

 
PURPOSE:

This bill grants a sales tax exemption for libraries when selling
certain materials to raise money for library purposes.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the tax law by adding a new paragraph, which provides a
sales tax exemption when libraries or library friends groups sell used
book, magazines, pamphlets, and other items to raise money for library
purposes.

Section 2 provides the effective date.
              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Libraries throughout New York State provide vital educational services
to our communities. As digital media grows, libraries provide New York-
ers a means to access and a place to learn to use digital tools more
effectively in their jobs and home lives. Many libraries hold programs
to guide adults in career services such as resume building, interview-
ing, and job searching. Libraries also provide a place for community and
cultural events, including book clubs, musical events, and arts and
crafts, among many others. With the positive economic and cultural
impact these programs provide, it is important that New York's libraries
are able to receive and generate adequate funding for these public
services.

Library use has increased significantly in recent years. Our libraries
face increasing costs to meet this surge in demand, particularly with
the increase in demand for digital information services. While efforts
have been made to increase support for libraries, many of these centers
of learning and culture still struggle to keep up with demand.

To help supplement traditional funding sources, libraries and library
friends groups sell used materials. Currently, those materials are
subject to a sales tax. Removing the sales tax will help ensure
libraries and library friend groups can generate greater funding from
the sale of used materials, helping to ease the increasing financial
strain on the integral public services our libraries provide.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

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