S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  5989--A
     Cal. No. 651
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 4, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  BYNOE  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the  Committee  on  Libraries  --  reported
   favorably  from  said  committee,  ordered to first and second report,
   ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered  reprinted,  retaining
   its place in the order of third reading

 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:
 
   Section  1.  Section 816 of the education law, as added by chapter 247
 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   § 816. Local library and school partnerships. 1.  Legislative  intent.
 In order to promote and encourage children to read and learn outside the
 classroom,  this  law  seeks to encourage local libraries and schools to
 work together to  promote  the  availability  of  library  services  and
 resources.
   2.  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.
   b.  "Public  library"  shall mean any public or association library as
 defined in section two hundred fifty-three of this title.
   3. UPON THE REGISTRATION OF A MINOR  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  THIRTY-TWO
 HUNDRED FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER TO ATTEND FULL TIME KINDERGARTEN OFFERED BY
 A SCHOOL DISTRICT, PARENTS OR PERSONS IN PARENTAL RELATION TO SUCH MINOR
 SHALL HAVE THE OPTION TO CHECK A SPACE ON SUCH REGISTRATION FORM AUTHOR-
 IZING  SUCH  MINOR  TO  RECEIVE A LOCAL LIBRARY CARD FROM THE RESPECTIVE
 LOCAL LIBRARY.
   4. Upon the request of a public library that  is  located  within  the
 boundaries of a school district, the district shall disseminate informa-

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD08557-02-5
 S. 5989--A                          2
 
 tional  materials  provided  by the library regarding the public library
 and applications for public library cards to students  enrolled  in  the
 school  district.  Such  materials shall be distributed to any or all of
 the following, as requested by the public library:
   a. annually to every student of such school district upon [his or her]
 THEIR  entry  into  [kindergarten]  GRADE ONE, grade six and grade nine,
 except that a library and school may agree to  alternate  or  additional
 grades;
   b.  to  every  student  upon  [his  or  her] THEIR 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 OR PERSONS IN PARENTAL
 RELATION TO A STUDENT who wish to obtain such materials.
   [4.] 5. The  director  of  each  participating  public  library  shall
 consult  annually  with  the  school district in order to coordinate the
 provision of materials containing  information  regarding  the  library,
 instructions  on  how students may obtain a library card and an applica-
 tion for a library card.
   [5.] 6. 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  [three]  FOUR of this
 section so that  each  school  may  satisfy  the  requirements  of  this
 section.
   [6.]  7.  In  the  event there is no public library located within the
 boundaries of a school district,  such  school  district  shall  not  be
 required to comply with this section.
   [7.]  8.  The commissioner shall have the authority to establish rules
 and regulations to implement the provisions of this section.
   [8.] 9. Nothing in this act shall require a school district to  expend
 additional funds in order to comply with the provisions of this section.
   [9.]  10.  This  section  shall  not  apply  to a school district or a
 library in a city of one million or more where such district or  library
 are  subject  to a local law which was adopted prior to the enactment of
 this section and which provides for the distribution of library  materi-
 als in public schools.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
 it shall have become a law.