S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         7745
                              2015-2016 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                     May 26, 2015
                                      ___________
       Introduced by M. of A. BUTLER -- read once and referred to the Committee
         on Libraries and Education Technology
       AN  ACT  to  authorize  the  Gloversville  Public  Library to enter into
         contracts in aid of the financing of historic  rehabilitation  of  the
         library;  and  to  authorize participation in the retirement system by
         employees of  a  free  association  library  chartered  to  serve  the
         Enlarged City School District of the city of Gloversville
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. Policy and purposes. It is hereby declared to be the policy
    2  of this state to promote the education, economic welfare and  prosperity
    3  of inhabitants of low-income communities, and to encourage the rehabili-
    4  tation  of  historic  buildings and the provision of library services in
    5  low-income communities in order to promote the  education  of  residents
    6  and  assist  in  the economic revival of such communities. The rehabili-
    7  tation of historic buildings  and  the  enhancement  of  public  library
    8  services are matters of state concern. It is found that enabling the use
    9  of  historic  rehabilitation  tax  credits, new markets tax credits, and
   10  other tax and other incentives to assist in financing the rehabilitation
   11  and preservation of the Gloversville Public Library is for a public  and
   12  governmental  purpose  and in the public interest for the benefit of the
   13  people served by the Gloversville Public Library and the improvement  of
   14  their  education,  economic welfare, and prosperity and for the advance-
   15  ment and improvement of education and economic prosperity in the state.
   16    S 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general, special, or  local
   17  law, for the purposes set forth in section one of this act:
   18    (a)  The Gloversville Public Library, acting by its board of trustees,
   19  is hereby authorized and empowered to transfer to any New York education
   20  corporation the real property known as the Gloversville Public  Library,
   21  including the site thereof, building, parking areas and other facilities
   22  appurtenant thereto or utilized therefor, with or without consideration,
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD11209-02-5
       A. 7745                             2
    1  upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the Gloversville
    2  Public Library and such New York education corporation.
    3    (b)  The Gloversville Public Library, acting by its board of trustees,
    4  is hereby authorized and empowered to transfer to the trustees of a free
    5  association library chartered and registered by the  regents,  ownership
    6  and control of the personal property of the Gloversville Public Library,
    7  including library materials, records, furnishings and all other property
    8  of  the Gloversville Public Library exclusive of land and buildings, for
    9  the purpose of providing library services for the benefit and  free  use
   10  on  equal terms of the residents of the Enlarged City School District of
   11  the city of Gloversville, subject to any terms or conditions as  may  be
   12  agreed  to  by the Gloversville Public Library and such free association
   13  library.
   14    (c) Taxes levied and collected by the Enlarged City School District of
   15  the city of Gloversville for library purposes shall be paid over to  any
   16  library  chartered  and  registered  by  the  regents to provide library
   17  services for the benefit and free use on equal terms of the residents of
   18  the Enlarged City School  District  of  the  city  of  Gloversville,  as
   19  directed and approved by the voters of the Enlarged City School District
   20  of the city of Gloversville.
   21    S  3.  It  is  hereby declared that all of the purposes referred to in
   22  this act are in the public interest and for the benefit of the residents
   23  of the Enlarged City School District of the city of Gloversville and are
   24  hereby declared to be public purposes for which monies and other  assets
   25  of the Gloversville Public Library may be used or expended.
   26    S 4. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation, any free association
   27  library  chartered  by  the  regents  to  serve the Enlarged City School
   28  District of the city of Gloversville and registered by the regents  may,
   29  by resolution adopted by its board of trustees and approved by the comp-
   30  troller,  elect  to  participate in the retirement system. Acceptance of
   31  its employees for membership in the retirement system shall be mandatory
   32  with the comptroller, who shall determine the  amounts  of  contribution
   33  payable  by  such  library and its employees, shall resolve questions of
   34  credit for prior service, and shall in all other  respects  assure  that
   35  such  employees share the same rights, obligations and benefits as other
   36  members of the retirement system. The officers  and  employees  of  such
   37  library shall be credited with such periods of prior service as shall be
   38  certified  by  such library for service rendered to it, or the state, or
   39  in any other capacity approved by  such  library  and  the  comptroller.
   40  Service for such library after the date on which it commences to partic-
   41  ipate in the retirement system shall be considered as member service. An
   42  officer  or employee of such library who, as of the date he or she is so
   43  approved for membership in the retirement system, is  already  a  member
   44  thereof,  shall  not  have  his  or  her  total  credit  reduced by such
   45  approval. Any reserve held on account of any such officer or employee in
   46  the pension accumulation fund shall be used as  an  offset  against  the
   47  deficiency contribution payable thereafter by such library on account of
   48  such  officer  or  employee  for  any  prior service credit and any such
   49  previous credit.
   50    S 5. This act shall take effect immediately.