EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

1-1 Section 1. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general

1-2 fund to the Department of Education for distribution to school districts to

1-3 purchase library books:

1-4 For the fiscal year 1999-2000 $374,000

1-5 For the fiscal year 2000-2001 $374,000

1-6 2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, the board of trustees of

1-7 a school district may submit an application to the Department of Education

1-8 for a grant of money from the appropriation made by subsection 1 on a form

1-9 provided by the Department of Education. Such an application must include

1-10 a description of the:

1-11 (a) Amount of money expended by the school district, excluding gifts

1-12 and grants, in the immediately preceding year for the purchase of library

1-13 books for use in the media centers of school libraries within the school

1-14 district; and

1-15 (b) Financial needs of the school district to maintain an adequate supply

1-16 of library books in the media centers of school libraries within the school

1-17 district.

1-18 3. Upon receipt of such an application, the Department of Education

1-19 shall review the application to determine whether it is complete. Except as

2-1 otherwise provided in subsection 7, the Department of Education shall

2-2 approve an application if it is complete.

2-3 4. The Department of Education shall apportion the money available for

2-4 each fiscal year among the school districts whose applications have been

2-5 approved. Each school district is entitled to receive, within the limits of

2-6 money available, an amount equal to not more than 50 percent of the money

2-7 that the school district expended, excluding gifts and grants, on the purchase

2-8 of library books for use in the media centers of school libraries in the

2-9 immediately preceding year.

2-10 5. The board of trustees of a school district that receives a grant of

2-11 money pursuant to subsection 4 shall use the money to purchase library

2-12 books for use in the media centers of school libraries.

2-13 6. The board of trustees of a school district that receives a grant of

2-14 money pursuant to subsection 4 shall not use the money to:

2-15 (a) Supplant or cause to be reduced any other source of funding for the

2-16 media centers of school libraries within the school district.

2-17 (b) Settle or arbitrate disputes or negotiate settlements between an

2-18 organization that represents licensed employees of the school district and

2-19 the school district.

2-20 (c) Adjust the schedules of salaries and benefits of the employees of the

2-21 school district.

2-22 7. If the board of trustees of a school district receives a grant of money

2-23 pursuant to subsection 4 for the fiscal year 1999-2000 and the board of

2-24 trustees does not expend at least the amount of money, excluding gifts and

2-25 grants, that the board of trustees expended in the immediately preceding

2-26 year on the purchase of library books for media centers of school libraries,

2-27 the board of trustees is not eligible to apply for a grant of money for the

2-28 fiscal year 2000-2001. If the Department of Education receives an

2-29 application from a school district and, upon review of the information

2-30 contained in the application described in paragraph (a) of subsection 2, the

2-31 Department determines that the board of trustees did not expend at least the

2-32 amount of money that the board of trustees expended in the immediately

2-33 preceding year on the purchase of library books for media centers of school

2-34 libraries, the Department shall deny the application.

2-35 8. As used in this section, "media center of a school library" means a

2-36 centralized collection of educational resources located in a school library

2-37 that is designed to:

2-38 (a) Integrate the curriculum of a school;

2-39 (b) Teach pupils skills in methods to acquire information; and

2-40 (c) Ensure that teachers and pupils use the resources of information

2-41 offered in a school library.

2-42 9. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by subsection 1

2-43 for:

3-1 (a) The fiscal year 1999-2000 must be transferred and added to the

3-2 money appropriated for the fiscal year 2000-2001.

3-3 (b) The fiscal year 2000-2001, including any money added thereto

3-4 pursuant to paragraph (a), must not be committed for expenditure after June

3-5 30, 2001, and reverts to the state general fund as soon as all payments of

3-6 money committed have been made.

3-7 Sec. 2. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.