Texas SB 197: Relating to the award of library construction grants by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Bill Text

By:AAEckhardtS.B.ANo.A197
A BILLTO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relatingto the awardof libraryconstructiongrantsby the Texas
StateLibraryand ArchivesCommission.
BE IT ENACTEDBY THE LEGISLATUREOF THE STATEOF TEXAS:
SECTION
A1.AASection441.135(b),GovernmentCode,is amended
to readas follows:
(b)
AAThe programof grantsshallincludeone or moreof the
following:
(1)
AAsystemoperationgrants,to:
(A)
AAprovidebasicsystemsupportservicesto
memberlibraries;
(B)
AAprovidecoordinationandenablecooperation
withthe commissionand withotherlibrariesin a region;and
(C)
AAmeetcommissionand federalgoals;
(2)
AAincentivegrants,to encouragepubliclibrariesto
jointogetherintolargerunitsof serviceto meetcommissionand
federalgoals;
(3)
AAestablishmentgrants,to helplibrariesestablish
consortiaor cooperativesthatwillenablelibrariesto better
servetheircommunities;
(4)
AAequalizationgrants,to helppubliclibrariesin
communitieswithrelativelylimitedtaxableresourcesto meet
commissionandfederalgoalsandqualifyforlibrarysystem
membership;
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(5)AApublicinformationtechnologygrants,to  help
publiclibrariesmakestate,local,andfederalgovernment
informationthatis accessiblethroughtheInternetavailableto
the publicthroughcomputers;
(6)
AAcompetitivegrants,to  promoteinnovationby
publiclibrariesand by librariesdescribedby Section441.1271(a)
and to encouragemajorresourcesystemsor regionallibrarysystems
and librariesto meetcommissionand federalgoals;[and]
(7)
AAgrantstoaidlocallibraries,toprovide
assistanceto publiclibraries,andto helpthoselibrariesmeet
commissionand federalgoals;and
(8)
AAconstructiongrants,toencouragethe
establishmentof  newpubliclibrariesor  theimprovementof
existingpubliclibraries.
SECTION
A2.AASection441.138,GovernmentCode,is amendedby
amendingSubsection(b)andaddingSubsection(b-1)to readas
follows:
(b)
AALibrariesand librarysystemsmay use stategrantsfor:
(1)
AAmaterials;
(2)
AA[,] personnel;
(3)
AA[,] equipment;
(4)
AA[,] administrativeexpenses;
(5)
AAnewconstruction,rehabilitation,or renovation
of a libraryor theinfrastructureof a libraryandassociated
expenses;[,] and
(6)
AAfinancingprogramsthatenrichtheservicesand
materialsoffereda communityby its publiclibrary.
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S.B.
ANo.A197
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(b-1)AAStategrantsmaynotbe usedforsiteacquisition,
[construction,]acquisitionof buildings,or paymentof pastdebts.
SECTION
A3.AAThisAct takeseffectSeptember1, 2023.
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S.B.
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