SCHOOL DISTRICTS:  CREATING

NEW DISTRICT LIBRARIES

Senate Bill 108 as passed by the Senate

Sponsor:  Sen. Dale W. Zorn

House Committee:  Local Government

Senate Committee:  Local Government

Complete to 5-12-15

SUMMARY:

Senate Bill 108 would amend the District Library Establishment Act (MCL 397.172) to eliminate the January 1, 2015, sunset that prohibits school districts from establishing a new district library after that date.

Currently the act defines the term "municipality" as follows:  municipality means a city, village, school district, township or county.  Municipality shall not include a school district for the purpose of establishing a new district library after January 1, 2015.  Senate Bill 108 would eliminate the underlined portion of the definition.

In addition, the bill changes the definition of the term "department" by eliminating a reference to the now-disbanded Department of History, Arts, and Libraries, and substituting, instead, the Department of Education, which is now responsible for administering library services.

Finally, the bill changes the definition of the term "state librarian" to mean the Department of Education (eliminating a reference to the librarian appointed under Section 5 of the Library of Michigan Act).

FISCAL IMPACT:

Senate Bill 108 would have no fiscal impact on the state, and a possible, but indeterminate, revenue increase for local units of government.   The bill would allow local libraries the possibility of increasing their funding base as a district library.  Becoming a district library may allow a local library to access additional funding streams, a higher millage rate, and a larger tax base.

BACKGROUND:

Senate Bill 108 is similar to House Bill 5597 (Zemke) introduced during the last legislative session.  House Bill 5597 passed the House on December 4, 2014, by a vote of 109 to 0.  It died in the Senate Committee on Local Government and Elections at the end of the two-year legislative session. 

                                                                                         Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                Fiscal Analysts:   Bethany Wicksall

                                                                                                                           Samuel Christensen

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.