This page will provide you up-to-date information about the legislation and issues we're following.

Alerts!

URGENT REQUEST for assistance with Advocacy Efforts

The House and Senate TED Appropriations Committees have now both cut $4.5 million from State Aid to Public Libraries grant. Until this past weekend, the House maintained current funding levels but after the budget conference on Sunday, the House lowered their position from $21.8 million to just $17.3 million.

This means every library will receive less in FY2020-2021. How could it affect your library? Click on the link below to find your County and estimated loss.

ESTIMATED LOSS TO YOUR COUNTY

Now, we must act if we wish to see this money restored. Use the message below and urge the Appropriations Chairs of both the House and Senate to restore State Aid to current funding levels.

PLEASE, take 5 minutes to send the message below to both Appropriations Chairs: Rep. Cummings and Senator Bradley and to Senate President Galvano and Speaker Oliva

Phone Contact Info:

Rep. Cummings - (850) 717-5018

Sen. Bradley - (850) 487-5005

Senate President Galvano - (850) 487-5021

House Speaker Oliva - (850) 717-5110

MESSAGE TO USE:

"The Library community of Florida urgently requests that the House and Senate Appropriations Committees restore State Aid to Public Libraries funding at current year level of $21.8 million.

Following the recent budget conference, State Aid to libraries was cut by $4.5 million to just $17.3 million. Why does this matter? Because, now, State Aid funding for Libraries is poised to be at its LOWEST level in more than 30 years!

We urge you to restore this State Aid funding amount to the figure the House Tourism & Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee initially proposed, $21.8 million. This will mirror current-year funding and ensure that programming in your local library continues.

Please help your constituents and the wider Library community!"

Department of State Legislation

State Aid to Public Libraries Grant

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Proposed Budget
Jan 29: Chair proposed approx. $17.3 million in state aid combined with additional library items like construction and MLC funding of approx. $4 million. This total reaches the combined total needed to meet Maintenance of Effort to draw full federal LSTA funding BUT reduces State Aid by $3 million compared to current figures.
Moves to Senate Appropriations Committee
DIED in Appropriations

House TED (Transportation & Economic Development) Appropriations Subcommittee:

Proposed Budget (p. 378)
Jan. 28: Chair proposed additional nonrecurring funding for State-Aid to libraries which would maintain the current year funding level ($21.8M); combined with additional library funding items of approx. $4 million. This total reaches the combined total needed to meet Maintenance of Effort to draw full federal LSTA funding.
Moves to House Appropriations Committee

Public Library Construction Grant

No proposed amount in House budget as of February 26, 2020 - watching for updates
$2 million presented in Senate budget

Multi-type Library Cooperatives

Clean-up Bills

SB 1570 (Perry) Division of Library and Information Services; Removing the date by which the division must submit an annual report regarding the allocation of library funding to the Chief Financial Officer; revising the duties and responsibilities of the division in the administration of the Florida State Archives; revising the duties and responsibilities of the division in the administration of the records and information management program; removing a limitation on the annual grant amount that the administrative unit of a library cooperative may receive from the state for purposes of sharing library resources, etc.

SENATE - On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 03/03/20, 1:00 pm, 412 Knott Building - Temporarily Postponed

HB 1455 (Rodriguez) Division of Library and Information Services; Revises duties of Division of Library & Information Services, State Archives, records & information management program, & library cooperative grants.

HOUSE - Favorable by Transportation and Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee; YEAS 11 NAYS 0

HOUSE - On Committee agenda-- State Affairs Committee, 02/27/20, 8:00 am, Morris Hall

Smart Horizons Career Online High School

Senate Form 2029 (Stargel) $2M funding request. Smart Horizons Career Online Education (SHCOE), a Florida-based, AdvancED/SACS/NCA/NWAC accredited online school district, partners with public libraries across Florida to offer a career-based, adult high school diploma program designed to prepare adults for transition into the workplace

HB 3885 (Latvala, (CO-SPONSORS) Polsky) $2M funding request. Provides an appropriation for the Online Workforce-Based Adult High School Program.

Local Funding Requests

S1552 HB3103	Wakulla County Library - High Risk Shelter (PDF)	Montford	$12,000,000	Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development
S1620 HB3781	African American History Museum and Library - Palm Beach (PDF)	Powell	$410,000	Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development
1989	Backup Generators - Branch Libraries and Community Centers - Leon (PDF)	Montford	$800,000	Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development
1990	Wind Mitigation Studies - Branch Libraries and Community Centers - Leon (PDF)	Montford	$200,000	Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development
2029	Online Adult High School Program for State of Florida Library System (PDF)	Stargel	$2,000,000	Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development
2547	Construct Clsrm, Lab, & Library Bldg-Blount (PDF)	Perry	$17,689,656	Appropriations
HB2765	City of Safety Harbor Public Library Expansion	Grant	$2,000,000	Appropriations