EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0847*
SENATE BILL 847
F5 2lr2482
CF HB 1249
By: Senators Edwards, Bailey, Corderman, Elfreth, King, and Young
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2022
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 9, 2022
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Libraries – Capital Projects – State Share Adjustments 2
FOR the purpose of providing for a certain adjustment to the State share percentage for a 3
county library capital project under certain circumstances; and generally relating to 4
the State grant program for county public library capital projects. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Education 7
Section 23–509 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Education 13
23–509. 14
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 15
(2) “Capital project” means the: 16
(i) Acquisition of land or buildings for a county library; or 17
2 SENATE BILL 847
(ii) Construction or improvement of a county library. 1
(3) “Construction or improvement” means planning, design, engineering, 2
alteration, construction, reconstruction, enlargement, expansion, extension, improvement, 3
replacement, rehabilitation, renovation, upgrading, repair, or capital equipping. 4
(4) “County library” means a library in a county public library system in 5
the State. 6
(5) “State Library Agency” means the Maryland State Library Agency. 7
(b) (1) There is a State grant program for county public library capital projects 8
in the State Library Agency. 9
(2) The grant program is in addition to the county–State minimum library 10
program established under § 23–502 of this subtitle. 11
(c) (1) The State Library Agency shall develop and administer a grant 12
program to assist in the funding of county library capital projects. 13
(2) The purpose of the grant program is to: 14
(i) Provide a uniform and objective analysis of proposed capital 15
projects; and 16
(ii) Support projects that address the library needs in the State. 17
(3) Grants under the program: 18
(i) Require a matching fund from any combination of county, 19
municipal, or private sources; and 20
(ii) May not be for an amount less than $20,000. 21
(d) (1) On or before July 15 of each year, a county public library system may 22
submit applications to the State Library Agency to receive grants for county library capital 23
projects for the next fiscal year. 24
(2) In order to apply for a capital project grant, a county public library 25
system shall have: 26
(i) A countywide library plan that includes a mission statement, 27
needs statement, and multiyear goals and objectives on file with the State Library Agency; 28
and 29
(ii) A master plan that includes a description of the capital project 30
approved by the applicant’s governing body. 31 SENATE BILL 847 3
(3) An application shall include: 1
(i) A description of the scope and purpose of the project; 2
(ii) A building plan that includes the estimated total cost of the 3
project; and 4
(iii) Any other information required by the State Library Agency. 5
(4) A county public library system may not apply for more than three 6
capital project grants in a fiscal year. 7
(e) (1) The State Library Agency shall review grant applications submitted in 8
accordance with subsection (d) of this section. 9
(2) On or before October 1 of each year, the State Library Agency shall 10
make recommendations to the State Library Board regarding capital project grants for the 11
next fiscal year. 12
(3) In making its recommendations, the State Library Agency shall 13
consider: 14
(i) The public necessity and urgency of a project; 15
(ii) The need for additional sources of funding for a project; 16
(iii) The estimated cost and timeliness of executing a project; 17
(iv) The viability of matching funds for a project; and 18
(v) Geographic diversity. 19
(4) On or before November 1 of each year, the State Library Board shall: 20
(i) Approve capital projects for funding in the State budget for the 21
next fiscal year; and 22
(ii) Forward the list of approved capital projects to the Department 23
of Budget and Management. 24
(5) 1. For each of fiscal years 2008 through 2021, the Governor shall 25
include in the annual operating or capital budget submission $5,000,000 for county library 26
capital projects. 27
4 SENATE BILL 847
2. For fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor 1
shall include in the annual operating or capital budget submission $7,500,000 for county 2
library capital projects. 3
(f) (1) [The] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS 4
SUBSECTION, THE State share percentage for a county library capital project approved 5
under this section shall be calculated by dividing the State share of the minimum program 6
for a county calculated under § 23–505(b) of this subtitle by the library program amount 7
for a county calculated under § 23–503(b) of this subtitle, and multiplying this quotient by 8
1.25. 9
(2) (i) The minimum State share of a county library capital project is 10
50%. 11
(ii) The maximum State share of a county library capital project is 12
90%. 13
(3) (I) A COUNTY IS ELIGIBLE F OR AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE STATE 14
SHARE PERCENTAGE FOR A COUNTY LIBRARY CAP ITAL PROJECT IF: 15
1. A COUNTY’S MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD I NCOME IS IN THE 16
BOTTOM QUARTILE IN T HE STATE; AND 17
2. THE STATE SHARE PERCENTAG E FOR A COUNTY 18
LIBRARY CAPITAL PROJ ECT IS 50%. 19
(II) 1. THE LOCAL SHARE OF A COUNTY LIBRARY CAPIT AL 20
PROJECT SHALL BE RED UCED TO EQUAL THE LO CAL SHARE OF THE ADJ ACENT 21
COUNTY THAT IS LESS THAN 50% BUT CLOSEST TO 50%. 22
2. THE STATE SHARE OF A COUN TY LIBRARY CAPITAL 23
PROJECT IN THE ELIGI BLE COUNTY SHALL BE INCREASED BY A PERCE NTAGE THAT 24
IS EQUAL TO THE REDU CTION UNDER SUBSUBPA RAGRAPH 1 OF THIS 25
SUBPARAGRAPH . 26
(g) The State Library Board shall report to the Governor and, in accordance with 27
§ 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly, on or before October 1 of 28
each year, on State grants awarded for county public library capital projects for the prior 29
fiscal year. 30
(h) The State Library Board shall adopt regulations to implement the grant 31
program established under this section. 32
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 33
1, 2022. 34 SENATE BILL 847 5
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.