Idaho Librarian

On My Mind...

Library Issues In the 2001 Idaho Legislative Session Summarized

By Charles Bolles, State Librarian 

Charles Bolles has been in this position for nearly 21 years, and, as State  Librarian,  is an ex- officio member of the Executive Board of the Idaho Library Association.

Fiscal issues heavily dominated the 2001 Session of the Idaho Legislature.   Not only was there a $117,000,000 tax relief package passed, but the record surplus in the state's General Account resulted in a $65,000,000 appropriation to the Permanent Building Fund which allowed for building construction at all four state-supported colleges and universities as well as the two publicly funded community colleges.   In addition, higher education received its highest increase ever, 11.2%, and public schools received a 6.8% increase.    The State Library received significant increases in personnel costs and capital replacement, but the only one enhancement unit was funded,  $124,400 for Read to Me to replace Albertson's Foundation monies from a grant that ended June 30, 2001.   The Read to Me funds were appropriated on a one time only basis and will not become part of the State Library's permanent base. 

Other library issues did not fare as well.   The Idaho Library Association did not have a legislative package ready for submission at the beginning of the Session.   However, two library-related bills were introduced after the Session had begun both in the Senate. 

Senate Bill 1135 providing for certified school librarians in elementary schools was introduced in the Senate Education Committee.   This legislation was the result of several years of work by a coalition of Idaho Education Association,  Idaho Library Association, the State Department of Education and the Idaho State Library.   This effort has been led by Barbara Barrett,  Boise Hillside Junior High Media Generalist.  The purpose of the legislation is to put teacher librarians in elementary schools.   On March 1, the Senate Education Committee heard the bill and was generally supportive of the purpose.  The legislation would have phased in teacher librarians in elementary schools over a period of five years.   The initial appropriation to support this activity would have been $750,000 in the first year and would increase to $7,500,000 in the fifth and every year thereafter. Several supporters spoke in favor of the bill.  There was opposition, primarily because of the fiscal impact, from representatives of Idaho school administrators.    The Senate Education Committee voted to hold the bill in committee, effectively killing it, because the appropriations process was to far along to have even a $750,000 item added. 

The coalition is to be congratulated on getting Senate Bill 1135 introduced and heard.  In the several years of its existence, this is the most progress that has been made on the issue.   The coalition is currently working with the Superintendent of Public Instruction in an attempt to get the funds for this program to be included as part of the public schools budget request for fiscal year 2003. 

The second piece of library legislation introduced in the 2001 Session was Senate Bill 1155 that would allow district libraries to create a Capital Improvement Reserve Fund.   This fund would allow a district library to allow not more than five per cent of a district library's annual budget to be dedicated to a reserve fund.  This fund could be allowed to accumulate from year to year and could be expended for capital improvements such as remodeling buildings and providing for equipment and certain other expenses.   Senator Cameron (Moon) Wheeler introduced this legislation, primarily at the request of American Falls District Library among others.   

Senate Bill 1155 was heard in the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee on February 20, 2001 and received a do pass recommendation.   The full Senate passed the bill 33-0 on six days later.   When the bill was sent to the House it was assigned to the House Local Government Committee.   The House Local Government Committee heard the bill on March 8, 2001.   While the committee reported it out with a do pass recommendation several concerns had been expressed during the hearing. Perhaps the most damaging was that the bill should be amended so that the reserve fund could not be utilized to purchase property or to build or acquire a new building for the library.   Some Representatives expressed concern that such expenditures should not be entered into without an election.   Before the full House could act on Senate Bill 1155, Representative Crow asked that the bill be referred to the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.  Consideration was given to amending the bill to restrict it to conform with objections heard in the earlier hearing, but ultimately it was decided to pull the legislation before it could be heard in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, thus putting an end to legislative efforts on this issue for the Session. 

A District Library Law Revision Task Force is currently working on a revision of library district law and provisions for a Capital Improvement Reserve Fund are being included as one of the changes in the proposed legislation.   This revision has been sent to all public libraries and the final draft revision will be available for review at the Idaho Library Association's Annual Conference in October.