07 LC 37
0234
House
Bill 80
By:
Representatives Sims of the
169th,
Jones of the
46th,
Greene of the
149th,
and Hembree of the
67th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education,
so as to change certain provisions regarding apportionment of public library
funds to county and regional public libraries; to require a state audit of each
library system with certain exceptions; to provide for related matters; to
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Title
20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to relating to education,
is amended by striking subsection (a) of Code Section 20-2-305, relating to
county and regional libraries, and inserting in its place a new subsection to
read as follows:
"(a)
The board of regents shall annually determine and request of the General
Assembly the amount of funds needed for county and regional public libraries.
This request shall include, but not be limited to, funds to provide library
books and materials, salaries and travel for professional librarians, capital
outlay for public library construction, and maintenance and operation. The
amount for library books and materials shall be not less than 35¢ per
person. Funds for the purpose of paying the salaries of librarians allotted
shall be in accordance with regulations established by the state board and the
state minimum salary schedule for certificated professional personnel. Public
library funds shall be apportioned to county and regional public libraries in
proportion to the area and population to be served by such libraries in
accordance with regulations and minimum public library requirements prescribed
by the state
board; local
economic conditions shall also be considered in apportioning
funds. All such funds shall be
distributed directly to the regional or county library
boards."
SECTION
2.
Said
title is further amended by striking in its entirety Code Section 20-5-46,
relating to reports of the library system, and inserting in its place a new Code
section to read as follows:
"20-5-46.
The
library system shall make such reports as deemed necessary by local and state
funding agencies. In every case at least an annual report of activities, income,
and expenditures shall be filed with each funding agency.
Each library
system shall be subject to an annual financial audit conducted by the state
auditor unless the library board hires an independent accountant or the system
is party to a county government audit. The library system must file its audit
with the Georgia Public Library
Service."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.