HOUSE BILL NO. 3178 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS.
7030H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT To repeal section 181.060, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to regulations governing state aid to public libraries.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 181.060, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu 2 thereof, to be known as section 181.060, to read as follows: 181.060. 1. The general assembly may appropriate moneys for state aid to public 2 libraries, which moneys shall be administered by the state librarian, and distributed as 3 specified in rules and regulations promulgated by the Missouri state library, and approved by 4 the secretary of state. All such rules and regulations shall be written in substantial 5 compliance with the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; Article I 6 Section 8 of the Constitution of Missouri concerning the freedom of speech; and 7 applicable federal and state civil rights laws concerning places of public 8 accommodations and access, prohibitions against discrimination, and protection 9 against harassment in workplaces. Any such rules and regulations made prior to 10 July 1, 2026, shall be reviewed for compliance with this provision by August 28, 2028, as 11 otherwise provided by law. 12 2. At least fifty percent of the moneys appropriated for state aid to public libraries 13 shall be apportioned to all public libraries established and maintained under the provisions of 14 the library laws or other laws of the state relating to libraries. The allocation of the moneys 15 shall be based on an equal per capita rate for the population of each city, village, town, 16 township, urban public library district, county or consolidated library district in which any 17 library is or may be established, in proportion to the population according to the latest federal
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. HB 3178 2
18 census of the cities, villages, towns, townships, school districts, county or regional library 19 districts maintaining public libraries primarily supported by public funds which are designed 20 to serve the general public. No grant shall be made to any public library which is tax 21 supported if the rate of tax levied or the appropriation for the library should be decreased 22 below the rate in force on December 31, 1946, or on the date of its establishment. Grants 23 shall be made to any public library if a public library tax of at least ten cents per one hundred 24 dollars assessed valuation has been voted in accordance with sections 182.010 to 182.460 or 25 as authorized in section 137.030 and is duly assessed and levied for the year preceding that in 26 which the grant is made, or if the appropriation for the public library in any city of first class 27 yields one dollar or more per capita for the previous year according to the population of the 28 latest federal census or if the amount provided by the city for the public library, in any other 29 city in which the library is not supported by a library tax, is at least equal to the amount of 30 revenue which would be realized by a tax of ten cents per one hundred dollars assessed 31 valuation if the library had been tax supported. Except that, no grant under this section shall 32 be affected because of a reduction in the rate of levy which is required by the provisions of 33 section 137.073 or because of a voluntary reduction in the levy following the enactment of a 34 district sales tax under section 182.802, if the proceeds from the sales tax equal or exceed the 35 reduction in revenue from the levy. 36 3. The librarian of the library together with the treasurer of the library or the treasurer 37 of the city if there is no library treasurer shall certify to the state librarian the annual tax 38 income and rate of tax or the appropriation for the library on the date of the enactment of this 39 law, and of the current year, and each year thereafter, and the state librarian shall certify to the 40 commissioner of administration the amount to be paid to each library. 41 4. The balance of the moneys shall be administered and supervised by the state 42 librarian who may provide grants to public libraries for: 43 (1) Establishment, on a population basis to newly established city, county city/county 44 or consolidated libraries; 45 (2) Equalization to city/county, urban public, county or consolidated libraries; 46 (3) Reciprocal borrowing; 47 (4) Technological development; 48 (5) Interlibrary cooperation; 49 (6) Literacy programs; and 50 (7) Other library projects or programs that may be determined by the local library, 51 library advisory committee and the state library staff that would improve access to library 52 services by the residents of this state. Newly established libraries shall certify through the 53 legally established board or the governing body of the city supporting the library and the 54 librarian of the library to the state librarian the fact of establishment, the rate of tax, the HB 3178 3
55 assessed valuation of the library district and the annual tax yield of the library. The state 56 librarian shall then certify to the commissioner of administration the amount of establishment 57 grant to be paid to the libraries and warrants shall be issued for the amount allocated and 58 approved. The sum appropriated for state aid to public libraries shall be separate and apart 59 from any and all appropriations made to the state library. ✔
Statutes affected: