TLA TEXLINE NO. 183
Posted: February 25, 2005
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES NETWORK
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In this issue:
I. CALL TO ACTION: Support Library Funding
The subgroups working on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s budget have completed their initial recommendations, which will be presented to their respective full funding committees (House Appropriations and Senate Finance) in the coming days. The House Appropriations Committee will meet on Monday and will hear information about the TSLAC’s budget. No date has yet been posted for the Senate Finance Committee.
House General Government Subcommittee Recommendation
The House Appropriations General Government Subcommittee recommended that, in addition to the TSLAC base budget (at 95% of the current level), $2 million per year be included for TexShare as a “priority” item for consideration of funding. Rep. Menendez (San Antonio) is leading efforts to increase TexShare funding.
Senate Finance Article I Working Group Recommendation
The working group recommended funding the TSLAC base budget, restoring the 5% cut, funding capital expenses at the State Library, and left pending the issues of increased funding for TexShare and Loan Star Libraries.
CALL TO ACTION:
Please contact your senator or representative if either serves of the House Appropriations or Senate Finance Committee. Urge their support of library funding.
1) Increase funding for TexShare. The Legislative Budget Board’s initial recommendation for funding is only about $4 million a year from state and federal sources! In 2003, TexShare databases were funded at over $10 million. We need the strongest level of funding possible.
Tell your legislator why the people who use your library need the TexShare program. Be very specific and be sure to relate any stories about the local impact of the cuts in the TexShare program over the last two years.
TALKING POINTS: http://www.txla.org/html/legis/TexShare.pdf.
2) Restore the 5% cut to the TSLAC budget. The total cost to restore the State Library’s budget is just under $750,000 per year. The funding would restore funding to all programs at the TSLAC, including the Texas Library Systems. Describe the ongoing need for funding.
TALKING POINTS: http://www.txla.org/html/legis/System%20Talking%20Points.pdf
3) Increase in funding for Loan Star Libraries. The current level is $2.7 million per year. However, the Legislative Budget Board has recommended only $2.65 million dollars for each year of the next biennium.
Tell your legislator how the people who use your local library have benefited from Loan Star Libraries funding. Be sure to describe the continuing need for additional funding.
TALKING POINTS: http://www.txla.org/html/legis/Loan%20Star.pdf.
Members of the full House Appropriations Committee are:
Members of the Senate Finance Committee are:
II. HB 789 (King) left pending in Committee
The House Committee on Regulated Industries met Tuesday to hear HB 789 (King), which relates to proposed changes in telecommunications regulation in the state. As reported in Texline 182, the bill contained three primary elements of interest to libraries: 1) telecommunications discounts for libraries, schools, and institutions of higher education; 2) continuation of the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF) assessment; and 3) language prohibiting municipalities from offering certain services.
The bill was left pending in the Committee, which plans to continue working on the draft to address concerns raised during the hearing.
Discussion of library issues:
1) Telecommunications discounts
The discounts remain a component of the bill at this time.
2) TIF assessment
In his opening comments, Chairman King stated, in essence, that the assessment would likely continue, but that the Appropriations Committee would basically dictate how the money would be used. Rep. Hunter stated his support for measures that would allow libraries and schools to continue benefiting from that funding.
3) Prohibition against municipalities offering certain services
Chairman King was very clear that an outcome which prohibited libraries from offering services in any way was unintentional and that the language would be corrected in the next draft.
TLA-Texline is an irregular publication of the Texas Library Association mailed directly to members interested in legislative and governmental issues affecting libraries. To subscribe--or to offer comments or suggestions-- contact Gloria Meraz, Director of Communications, Texas Library Association. Previous issues of Texline are archived on the TLA website.