HB 801

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to state aid to public libraries; amending
3s. 257.172, F.S.; revising grant eligibility criteria for
4multicounty libraries; revising determination for and
5amount of base grants; amending s. 257.18, F.S.; revising
6eligibility criteria, calculation, and determination for
7equalization grants; limiting grants and grant amounts
8under specified conditions; amending s. 257.22, F.S.;
9removing a requirement for issuance of warrants to
10political subdivisions eligible for certain funding;
11providing an effective date.
12
13Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15     Section 1.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section 257.172,
16Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
17     257.172  Multicounty library grants.--
18     (1)  The administrative unit of a multicounty library that
19serves a population of 50,000 or more and serves two, or has
20three or more counties, at least one of which qualifies for an
21equalization grant, is eligible for an annual grant from the
22state. The grant funds are to be used for the support and
23extension of library service in participating counties. The
24grant must be computed by the division on a state matching basis
25up to $1 million in local expenditures by all participating
26counties for operation and maintenance of a library during the
27second preceding year. The administrative unit of a multicounty
28library with:
29     (a)  Two participating counties is eligible for a grant
30equal to 5 cents on each local dollar of expenditure.
31     (b)  Three participating counties is eligible for a grant
32equal to 10 cents on each local dollar of expenditure.
33     (c)  Four participating counties is eligible for a grant
34equal to 15 cents on each local dollar of expenditure.
35     (d)  Five participating counties is eligible for a grant
36equal to 20 cents on each local dollar of expenditure.
37     (e)  Six or more participating counties is eligible for a
38grant equal to 25 cents on each local dollar of expenditure.
39     (2)  In addition, to support multicounty library service,
40the administrative unit of a multicounty library with:
41     (a)  Two participating counties is eligible to receive a
42base grant of $50,000, effective July 1, 2007.
43     (b)  Three or more participating counties is eligible to
44receive a base grant of a minimum of $250,000. Such amount shall
45be increased to $350,000 when the appropriation from state funds
46for operating, multicounty, and equalization grants is at least
473 percent more than the appropriation from state funds for those
48grants for fiscal year 2006-2007 to support multicounty library
49service. That amount may be adjusted by the division based on
50the percentage change in the state and local government price
51deflator for purchases of goods and services, all items, 1983
52equals 100, or successor reports for the preceding calendar year
53as initially reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the
54United States Department of Commerce, as certified by the
55Florida Consensus Estimating Conference.
56     Section 2.  Section 257.18, Florida Statutes, is amended to
57read:
58     257.18  Equalization grants.--
59     (1)  Any county qualifying for an operating grant is
60eligible to receive an equalization grant if it meets the
61following criteria:
62     (a)  The county was eligible for an equalization grant in
63fiscal year 2006-2007.
64     (b)  When The value of 1 mill adjusted to reflect the
65average statewide level of assessment is below the median amount
66for all counties in the state and the per capita local funds
67expended for library support during the second preceding year is
68below the average for all counties.
69     (c)  The county operating millage subject to the 10-mill
70cap is equal to or above the average for all counties. If the
71county does not meet this millage requirement, the per capita
72income for the county must be equal to or below the average for
73all counties.
74     (d)  The county has been eligible for an equalization grant
75each fiscal year since fiscal year 2006-2007.
76     (2)  If a county fails to meet the eligibility criteria for
77an equalization grant in any one year, the county shall be
78notified that its equalization grant funding will be phased out
79over a 3-year period as follows:
80     (a)  In the first year, the county shall receive the grant
81amount for which it qualified the previous year.
82     (b)  In the second year, the county shall receive two-
83thirds of the grant amount it received under paragraph (a).
84     (c)  In the third year, the county shall receive one-third
85of the grant amount it received under paragraph (a).
86     (d)  In subsequent years, the county shall not be eligible
87to receive an equalization grant.
88     (3)  An equalization grant to an eligible county is
89calculated in the following manner:
90     (a)  The equalization factor is computed by subtracting the
91value of 1 mill adjusted to reflect the average statewide level
92of assessment for each county from the average adjusted value of
931 mill for all counties and then dividing that amount by the
94average adjusted value of 1 mill for all counties.
95     (b)  An equalization grant is computed by multiplying the
96equalization factor times the total local funds expended for
97library support by that county during the second preceding year
98and adding that amount to the actual total local funds expended
99for library support by that county during the second preceding
100year. The result is the adjusted value for the local funds
101expended for library service. The amount of the equalization
102grant is equal to 25 cents of the adjusted value of local funds
103expended for library service.
104     (c)(2)  When the adjusted mill equivalent of actual local
105funds expended for library support by the county during the
106second preceding year is above the statewide average adjusted
107mill equivalent of actual local funds expended by all counties
108receiving operating grants, the amount of the equalization grant
109is equal to 50 cents of the adjusted value of local funds
110expended for library service.
111     (4)  A county may not receive an equalization grant that is
112equal to more than 10 percent of the total amount required to
113fund equalization grants to all eligible counties.
114     (5)(3)  The Division of Library and Information Services
115shall calculate equalization grants based on the amount of local
116funds expended for library service the second preceding year as
117certified by the appropriate county officials and information on
118the level of assessment of property in each county, and the
119taxable value of property in each county, the county operating
120millage subject to the 10-mill cap, and the per capita income as
121reported by the state agency authorized by law, which shall
122certify the results of such determination to the division.
123     (6)(4)  For the purposes of this section, s. 257.21 does
124not apply and to protect those counties most dependent on
125equalization grants, the amount available to fund equalization
126grants shall remain frozen at the fiscal year 2006-2007 level of
127$8,877,057 until 15 percent of the total appropriation for
128operating, multicounty, and equalization grants equals the
129fiscal year 2006-2007 funding level. Thereafter, equalization
130grants may not exceed 15 percent of the amount appropriated for
131operating, multicounty, and equalization grants. If the total
132appropriation for operating, multicounty, and equalization
133grants is less than the fiscal year 2006-2007 appropriation of
134$31,999,233, then s. 257.21 shall apply.
135     Section 3.  Section 257.22, Florida Statutes, is amended to
136read:
137     257.22  Division of Library and Information Services;
138allocation of funds.--Any moneys that may be appropriated for
139use by a county, a municipality, a special district, or a
140special tax district for the maintenance of a library or library
141service shall be administered and allocated by the Division of
142Library and Information Services in the manner prescribed by
143law. On or before December 1 of each year, the division shall
144certify to the Chief Financial Officer the amount to be paid to
145each county, municipality, special district, or special tax
146district, and the Chief Financial Officer shall issue warrants
147to the eligible political subdivisions.
148     Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.