Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Local Government Committee |
HB 2532
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Studying public access to library services in local jurisdictions across Washington.
Sponsors: Representatives Kilduff, Muri, McCaslin, Ortiz-Self, Senn, McBride, Robinson and Bergquist.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/19/16
Staff: Cassie Jones (786-7303).
Background:
State law authorizes the establishment and maintenance of public libraries by counties, cities, towns and library districts, either separately or in cooperation with one another. Library districts are separate taxing districts that fall into three categories:
Rural county library districts provide library service to the area of a county not included within the area of incorporated cities and towns.
Intercounty rural library districts provide library service for all areas outside of incorporated cities and towns within two or more counties.
Island library districts provide service to all areas outside of incorporated cities and towns on a single island only.
Cities and towns that have not established an independent library may contract to receive library services from an existing library under certain circumstances. In addition, cities and towns with a population of 300,000 or less at the time of annexation may become part of a library district by following the statutory annexation procedure, which requires adoption of an ordinance by the legislative authority of the city or town and voter approval at a special election.
Summary of Bill:
The Department of Commerce (COM) must conduct a study of library access in Washington. The study must:
identify each local jurisdiction in Washington that does not provide free library membership to its residents, either directly or through a contract with another library or library district, and is not annexed to a library district;
determine the number of Washingtonians who lack free membership to a public library;
determine the cost to each local jurisdiction of expanding free membership to all residents and all residents under the age of eighteen;
examine the history of Washington elections in which funding for library service was proposed to voters and describe the election results; and
identify any existing state and federal grant programs and funding sources that could potentially support the provision of library services in small jurisdictions and low-income communities.
The study must be compiled in a written report and submitted to the Legislature and the Governor by December 1, 2016. The study must be conducted within existing resources of the COM.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.