Texas House Bill HB2139

Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

• Out of House Committee: 4/1/11
• Voted on by House: 4/25/11
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/18/11
• Voted on by Senate: 5/24/11
• Governor Action: 6/17/11
• Enrolled: 5/25/11
• Passed: 6/17/11

Caption

Relating to the establishment of an Adopt-A-Library program and state employee charitable contributions to the program.

Impact

If enacted, the bill will amend the Government Code to include provisions for the Adopt-A-Library program and will enable the commission to utilize any cash or in-kind contributions received via this initiative. Importantly, this law positions the program as a legitimate charitable organization eligible for participation in the state's employee charitable campaign, allowing state employees to deduct contributions from their paychecks to support the program. This could significantly boost funding for public libraries and expand the resources available to them.

Summary

House Bill 2139 proposes the creation of an Adopt-A-Library program aimed at encouraging investments and donations to public libraries within the state of Texas. The bill empowers the commission to either establish this program directly or to support other state agencies and organizations in its establishment. The legislation emphasizes the promotion of charitable contributions to enhance library services through a structured program that facilitates engagement from both public and private entities.

Contention

While the bill generally proposes positive changes for public libraries, discussions may arise about its funding mechanisms and the effectiveness of engaging state employees in contributing to library initiatives. Critics could raise concerns regarding the sustainability of donations and how these would affect state budgeting for public libraries in the long term. Balancing private contributions with state funding commitments is an essential consideration as the program gets off the ground.