An act relating to public libraries and the Department of Libraries

New Section 8 (24 V.S.A. 2783) adds two eligibility criteria for performance grants: service providers must demonstrate capability and willingness to assist public libraries and increase awareness of library resources, and must demonstrate willingness to coordinate with regional planning commissions in the same geographic area.

New Section 9 (24 V.S.A. 4307) adds three requirements for municipalities receiving bylaw modernization grants: update the housing element of the municipal plan, update the utility and facility element to address present and prospective library facilities with priority of need, costs, and financing method, and comply with State and Federal Fair Housing Act.

Anti-discrimination requirements were added for grant recipients, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability by grantees, their employees, agents, subcontractors, and service providers.

The Universal Afterschool and Summer Special Fund allocation language changed from 'a portion' (enacted) to a specified 95/5 split in one version of the passed text: 95 percent to the Agency of Education for mixed delivery afterschool and summer programming, and 5 percent to the Department of Libraries for afterschool and summer programming at libraries.

A cap of $500,000 annually was added for Agency administrative costs to support the grant program and technical assistance to communities, including subcontracts.

The bill expanded from 9 sections in the enacted version to 10 sections in the passed version due to the addition of the bylaw modernization grants section.

The fixed 95/5 percentage split of cannabis sales tax revenue between the Agency of Education and Department of Libraries was removed. In its place, the enacted version gives the Agency discretion to 'allocate a portion of the funds annually to the Department of Libraries' for subgrants to public libraries, eliminating the guaranteed 5% share for libraries.

Eligible recipients were expanded beyond 'public, private, or nonprofit organizations' to explicitly include 'schools, and volunteer mentoring programs.' A new provision allows a coalition or group of public libraries to apply for a grant from the Agency or Department.

Removed detailed program requirements including: specific allowable uses (technical assistance, program implementation, expansion, sustainability), a requirement to target communities with low existing capacity, a non-discrimination clause for grantees, and a $500,000 annual cap on administrative costs.

Added a requirement that the Agency create a simple application and reporting process to reduce barriers for small, community-based organizations such as rural public libraries and volunteer mentoring programs.

Added a requirement that the advisory committee annually solicit public input on the grant program and procedures, hold a meeting to discuss that input, and consider plans to implement recommended changes.

The Senate version described the grant program as 'managed by the Agency of Education and the Department of Libraries' (dual management). The enacted version removes this dual-management language, placing primary management with the Agency while the Department receives allocated subgrant funds.

The 'Statement of purpose of bill as introduced' paragraph was removed from the unofficial version. This is a formatting convention difference, not a policy change.

Page headers changed from 'BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE AND HOUSE S.232' to 'AS PASSED BY HOUSE AND SENATE S.232', and the unofficial version adds a legislative tracking number (VT LEG #389682 v.1).

Eligible recipients of afterschool and summer programming funds now explicitly include schools and volunteer mentoring programs in addition to public libraries, broadening who can receive funding.

The allocation mechanism for library funding changed from a 'reasonable portion' going to the Department of Libraries for the Statewide Summer Reading Program to the Agency allocating a portion annually for subgrants to public libraries to sustain or create programming. Coalitions of public libraries can now also apply directly for grants.

A new subsection authorizes the Secretary to grant funds for voluntary early education programs, specifying allowable costs including personnel, training of parents and staff, materials, equipment, and training for public library staff.

The Agency must create a simple application and reporting process that reduces barriers for small, community-based organizations such as rural public libraries and volunteer mentoring programs.

The Department of Libraries must now encourage the sharing of library materials between libraries in Vermont and nationally through interlibrary loan.

A new section amends 22 V.S.A. 143 to specify that unless a municipality votes to elect a board of trustees for its public library, the governing body must appoint them, with staggered terms for initial selection.

The advisory committee must annually solicit public input on the grant program and hold a meeting to discuss that input and any plans to implement recommended changes.

The general library collection description changed from 'digital or physical' to 'digital and physical,' requiring both formats rather than allowing either one.

A new duty requires the Department to provide a service of advice and consultation to all libraries at both regional and state levels, including centralized cataloging and related technical services to the extent feasible.

The introduced bill's amendment to 24 V.S.A. 2783 (performance grants) requiring service providers to demonstrate willingness to assist public libraries and increase awareness of library resources was removed entirely.

The introduced bill's amendment to 24 V.S.A. 4307 (municipal bylaw modernization grants) requiring municipalities to update their plan's utility and facility element to address library facilities, resources, and services was removed entirely.

A new repeal section removes 22 V.S.A. 608, the Audio-Visual Revolving Fund, which is no longer in use.