By Mr. Augustus, a petition (accompanied by bill,
Senate, No. 1997) of Edward M. Augustus, Jr., James E.
Vallee, Bruce E. Tarr, Christine E. Canavan and other
members of the General Court for legislation to establish
the Public Libraries Fund. Tourism, Arts and Cultural
Development. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 78 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 19N the following section:-
Section 19O. There shall be a fund known as the Public Libraries Fund to be administered by the board of library commissioners.
The purpose of the fund shall be to enhance public library services by providing a matching incentive program for funds raised for local public libraries. Subject to appropriation, the commonwealth shall provide funding for the Public Libraries Fund. This funding is to be divided annually among municipalities whose public libraries report eligible local matching funds. Eligible funds shall include but not be limited to new funds contributed to library foundations, endowments, cash gifts, challenge grants and gifts from friends of library groups. To be eligible for assistance from the fund, a library shall maintain a statement of eligible gifts and donations. Funds shall be payable to those municipalities whose libraries raise at least $2,000 from eligible local matching funds and are certified to receive state aid to public libraries.
Amounts received from the Public Libraries Fund shall be deposited with the treasurer of the city or town and held as a separate account and shall be expended by the public library without further appropriation but only to enhance library services. Libraries that raise at least $2,000 shall be eligible for state matching funds equal to $.50 for each dollar raised, but only the first $100,000 raised by a library shall be eligible for matching funds.
Funds from the Public Libraries Fund may not be used as part of the local match for an approved public library project as defined in section19H or to meet the appropriation requirement as defined in section19A. Not more than 4 per cent of funds appropriated for the Public Libraries Fund may be used for administrative purposes by the board of library commissioners.
The board of library commissioners shall adopt regulations to administer this section.
