EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0848*
SENATE BILL 848
F5 4lr2538
By: Senator M. Washington
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Enoch Pratt Free Library – Capital Project Funding 2
FOR the purpose of repealing the requirement that Baltimore City must provide a certain 3
match to receive certain State funds for certain operating expenses of the Enoch 4
Pratt Free Library; requiring a certain annual appropriation for certain branches of 5
the Enoch Pratt Free Library for certain capital expenses in certain fiscal years; 6
requiring the Board of Trustees of the Enoch Pratt Free Library to demonstrate a 7
certain match under certain circumstances; and generally relating to the Enoch 8
Pratt Free Library. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Education 11
Section 23–402(a) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – Education 17
23–402. 18
(a) (1) The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore shall be governed by the 19
requirements and regulations pertaining to the Enoch Pratt Free Library of Baltimore City 20
as provided in Chapter 181 of the Acts of 1882 and any other laws applicable to the 21
operation of public libraries. 22
(2) The powers and duties of the Board of Trustees of the Enoch Pratt Free 23
Library are as provided in Chapter 181 of the Acts of 1882 and the Charter and the Articles 24
of Incorporation of the Enoch Pratt Free Library and other laws applicable to the Board of 25 2 SENATE BILL 848
Trustees of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. 1
(3) A State grant shall be made available to fund the increased operating 2
expenses for the branches of the Enoch Pratt Free Library that increase their operating 3
hours above the hours in effect as of January 1, 2016. 4
(4) (i) For fiscal year 2023 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor 5
shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $3,000,000 to support the 6
additional operating expenses for the increased hours of operation of all branches of the 7
Enoch Pratt Free Library subject to increased operating hours as provided in paragraph (3) 8
of this subsection. 9
(ii) [1. To receive any State funds under subparagraph (i) of this 10
paragraph, Baltimore City shall provide a 25% match for each dollar of State funds granted 11
to support the additional operating expenses related to the increased hours of operation of 12
the branches of the Enoch Pratt Free Library that, in that fiscal year, will be subject to 13
increased operating hours as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection. 14
2. Baltimore City may use public and private funds to satisfy 15
the requirements of subsubparagraph 1 of this subparagraph. 16
(iii) 1.] In calculating the additional operating expenses of the 17
increased hours of operation, the baseline hours of operation of all branches of the Enoch 18
Pratt Free Library are those hours of operation in effect as of January 1, 2016. 19
[2. The Maryland State Library Agency shall establish a 20
process to distribute the State grant to Baltimore City or the Enoch Pratt Free Library for 21
the additional operating expenses related to the increased hours of operation.] 22
(5) (i) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the operating hours 23
of the branches of the Enoch Pratt Free Library that are increased in accordance with 24
paragraphs (3) and (4) of this subsection shall be utilized to advance the library’s 25
commitment to equity, inclusion, and greater access to library resources, programs, and 26
services. 27
(ii) On or before September 30, 2023, and each September 30 28
thereafter, the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall provide a report to the 29
Department of Budget and Management and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 30
Government Article, the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the House 31
Appropriations Committee that includes: 32
1. A list of the branches of the Enoch Pratt Free Library with 33
increased operating hours for the previous fiscal year that are above the operating hours in 34
effect as of January 1, 2016; and 35
2. An evaluation of the impact of the increased hours of 36
operation of the branches of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. 37 SENATE BILL 848 3
(6) (I) FOR FISCAL YEARS 2025 AND 2026, THE GOVERNOR SHALL 1
INCLUDE IN THE ANNUA L BUDGET BILL AN APP ROPRIATION OF $10,000,000 TO 2
FUND AGING INFRASTRU CTURE CONSTRUCTION A ND CAPITAL IMPROVEME NT 3
EXPENSES IN EXCESS O F $1,000,000 FOR ALL BRANCHES OF THE ENOCH PRATT 4
FREE LIBRARY SYSTEM, INCLUDING FUNDING FO R: 5
1. REQUIRED ALTERATIONS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH 6
THE FEDERAL AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT; 7
2. REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF ROOF AND HVAC 8
SYSTEMS; 9
3. TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES T O PROVIDE 10
21ST–CENTURY LIBRARY SERVICE S; 11
4. GENERAL RENOVATIONS O F EXISTING FACILITIE S; 12
AND 13
5. REPLACEMENT OF OBSOLE TE OR UNSAFE BUILDIN GS 14
WITH NEW INFRASTRUCT URE. 15
(II) 1. TO RECEIVE ANY STATE FUNDS UNDER 16
SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ENOCH 17
PRATT FREE LIBRARY SHALL DEMONST RATE A 10% MATCH FOR EACH DOLLA R OF 18
STATE FUNDS GRANTED . 19
2. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ENOCH PRATT 20
FREE LIBRARY MAY USE PUBLI C AND PRIVATE FUNDS TO SATISFY THE MATCH 21
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS GRANT. 22
(III) IT IS THE INTENT OF T HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT THE 23
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ENOCH PRATT FREE LIBRARY UTILIZE THIS GRANT 24
TO: 25
1. ADVANCE THE ROLE OF T HE STATE LIBRARY 26
BRANCHES AS: 27
A. A VIBRANT AND VITAL PL ACE OF COMMUNITY 28
DEVELOPMENT ; 29
B. ARENAS FOR INNOVATION ; AND 30
4 SENATE BILL 848
C. VITAL RESOURCES FOR T HE STATE’S WORKFORCE 1
SYSTEM; AND 2
2. SUPPORT THE REIMAGINI NG OF LIBRARY SPACES TO 3
ADVANCE EQUITABLE EC ONOMIC RECOVERY AND TO ENABLE PATRONS TO : 4
A. GAIN DIGITAL SKILLS; 5
B. ACCESS NEW TECH NOLOGIES; AND 6
C. PURSUE VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL 7
PROGRAMS. 8
(IV) ANY FUNDS PROVIDED UN DER THIS PARAGRAPH A RE 9
SUPPLEMENTAL TO , AND MAY NOT SUPPLANT , FUNDS APPROPRIATED T O THE 10
ENOCH PRATT FREE LIBRARY FROM ANY OTHE R SOURCES. 11
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 12
1, 2024. 13