SENATE BILL 273

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021

INTRODUCED BY

Gerald Ortiz y Pino

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO LIBRARIES; REVISING THE DEFINITION OF "RURAL LIBRARY".

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 18-18-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 165, Section 4) is amended to read:

     "18-18-4. DEFINITIONS.--As used in Sections [1 through 4 of this 2019 act] 18-18-1 through 18-18-4 NMSA 1978, and to the extent allowed by law:

          A. "developing rural library" means a rural library whose library staff, whether salaried or volunteer, is dedicated to delivering library services to the public for at least fifteen hours per week and on at least two days each week;

          B. "established rural library" means a rural library:

                (1) with permanent, salaried staff; and

                (2) that offers library services to the public for at least twenty-five hours per week;

          C. "rural library" means a library that is established:

                (1) through an ordinance or legal resolution adopted by a political subdivision of the state and is located in an unincorporated area of the state or in a municipality:

                     (a) with a population [at the time of the library's establishment], as of July 1, 2019, of three thousand or [less or is located in an unincorporated area of the state] fewer; or

                     (b) with a population of three thousand or fewer according to the most recent federal decennial census published after July 1, 2019;

                (2) by a legal resolution of a tribal government in New Mexico and is located in a census designated place:

                     (a) with a population [at the time of the library's establishment], as of July 1, 2019, of three thousand or [less] fewer; or

                     (b) with a population of three thousand or fewer according to the most recent federal decennial census published after July 1, 2019; or

                (3) as a corporation with tax-exempt status pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is located in an unincorporated area of the state or in a municipality:

                     (a) with a population [at the time of the library's establishment], as of July 1, 2019, of three thousand or [less or is located in an unincorporated area of the state] fewer; or

                     (b) with a population of three thousand or fewer according to the most recent federal decennial census published after July 1, 2019; and

          D. "specialized services" means professional development opportunities, program support, information technology support and other capacity-building services, as defined by the state librarian."

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