Assembly Bill No. 345–Assemblyman Perkins

 

March 17, 2003

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Education

 

SUMMARY—Requires libraries in public high schools to be open to general public. (BDR 34‑1307)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: Yes.

                           Effect on the State: No.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to public schools; requiring the boards of trustees of school districts to make the libraries in public high schools open to the general public during certain times that are not regular school hours; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1  Section 1. Chapter 393 of NRS is hereby amended by adding

1-2  thereto a new section to read as follows:

1-3  1.  The board of trustees of each school district shall ensure

1-4  that each library in each public high school located within the

1-5  school district is open to the general public on a year-round basis

1-6  and during certain times that are not regular school hours.

1-7  2.  Each library in a public high school must be open to the

1-8  general public during the following times:

1-9  (a) On each weekday during the school year when school is in

1-10  session, from the time at which the school day ends until 7 p.m.

1-11      (b) On each weekday during the summer, or between sessions

1-12  in schools with year-round schedules, for a period of at least 4

1-13  hours.

1-14      (c) On each weekend day during the year, for a period of at

1-15  least 4 hours.

2-1  3.  Each public high school shall post the hours set forth in

2-2  subsection 2 in a manner that informs the general public of the

2-3  times that the library is available for use by the general public.

2-4  4.  A member of the general public who possesses a library

2-5  card issued by a public library, as that term is defined in NRS

2-6  379.0057, may use that library card to check out books at a high

2-7  school library that is open to the general public.

2-8  5.  The board of trustees of a school district may enter into

2-9  one or more cooperative agreements with:

2-10      (a) The trustees of a consolidated, county, district, town or

2-11  other public library located within the county in which the school

2-12  district is located; and

2-13      (b) The governing authority of a city library located within the

2-14  county in which the school district is located,

2-15  for the provision of library personnel and resources for a library

2-16  in a public high school located within the school district that is

2-17  open to the general public pursuant to this section.

2-18      Sec. 2.  NRS 393.071 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-19      393.071  The board of trustees of any school district may grant

2-20  the use of school buildings or grounds for public, literary, scientific,

2-21  recreational or educational meetings[,] or for the discussion of

2-22  matters of general or public interest upon such terms and conditions

2-23  as the board deems proper, subject to the limitations, requirements

2-24  and restrictions set forth in NRS 393.071 to 393.0719, inclusive[.] ,

2-25  and section 1 of this act.

2-26      Sec. 3.  NRS 393.0713 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-27      393.0713  [No]

2-28      1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, the privilege

2-29  of using the buildings or grounds [shall] must not be granted for a

2-30  period exceeding 1 year. The privilege is renewable and revocable

2-31  in the discretion of the board of trustees at any time.

2-32      2.  The time limitation set forth in subsection 1 does not apply

2-33  to the use of a high school library pursuant to section 1 of this act.

2-34      Sec. 4.  NRS 393.0714 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-35      393.0714  The board of trustees of any school district may grant

2-36  the use of school buildings, grounds and equipment without charge

2-37  to [public] :

2-38      1.  Public agencies for the purpose of holding examinations for

2-39  the selection of personnel.

2-40      2.  The general public for use of the libraries in high schools

2-41  located within the school district pursuant to section 1 of this act.

2-42      Sec. 5.  NRS 393.0719 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-43      393.0719  1.  Lighting, heating, [janitor] janitorial service and

2-44  the services of the person referred to in NRS 393.0718, when

2-45  needed, and other necessary expenses, in connection with the use of

3-1  public school buildings and grounds pursuant to NRS 393.071 to

3-2  393.0719, inclusive, [shall] and section 1 of this act must be

3-3  provided for out of school district funds of the respective school

3-4  districts in the same manner as similar services are provided for,

3-5  and except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, subject to

3-6  reimbursement by the user in accordance with such policies and

3-7  regulations as the board of trustees may adopt.

3-8  2.  The board of trustees of a school district may not request

3-9  reimbursement for the costs and expenses associated with the use

3-10  of a library in a high school by the general public pursuant to

3-11  section 1 of this act.

3-12      Sec. 6.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2003.

 

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