(a) The State Library Board shall make construction grants to public libraries established pursuant to this chapter. The board shall: (1) Establish criteria for the purpose of developing a priority listing of all construction projects, and (2) prior to September 1, 2007, grant an amount equal to one-third of the total construction cost, not to exceed five hundred thousand dollars for each approved project within the limits of the available funding for such projects. In the event that the available funding is insufficient to fund projects as provided above, projects remaining on the priority list shall be included in the priority listing for the next fiscal year. Each application for such grant shall be filed on or before September first, annually, on forms to be prescribed by said board.

(b) For applications submitted on or after September 1, 2007, and prior to July 1, 2013, the board shall grant an amount equal to one-third the total construction cost, not to exceed one million dollars, for each approved project within the limits of the available funding for such projects. For applications submitted on or after July 1, 2013, the board shall grant an amount up to one-half of the total construction cost, not to exceed one million dollars, for each approved project within the limits of the available funding for such projects.

(c) The State Library Board shall make emergency repair grants to public libraries established pursuant to this chapter for emergency repairs to buildings and equipment, as approved by the board. The board may grant an amount up to one-half of the emergency repair cost, not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars for each approved emergency repair project within the limits of the available funding for such project.

(P.A. 74-290, S. 1, 2; P.A. 75-316, S. 14; P.A. 80-400, S. 1, 2; P.A. 85-173, S. 1, 2; P.A. 96-178, S. 1, 18; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-7, S. 55; P.A. 13-239, S. 60.)

History: P.A. 75-316 substituted state library board for state library committee; P.A. 80-400 replaced former provisions re construction grants with new provisions which essentially raised limit from one-fourth to one-third of cost up to $200,000 rather than $100,000 and introduced provisions re priorities; P.A. 85-173 increased maximum grant amount from $200,000 to $350,000; P.A. 96-178 increased the cap for grants to $500,000, effective July 1, 1996; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-7 changed grant amount for applications submitted on or after September 1, 2007, to one-third of the total construction cost, but not to exceed $1,000,000, effective November 2, 2007; P.A. 13-239 designated existing provisions re board requirements re construction grants as Subsec. (a) and amended same to add “prior to September 1, 2007,” in Subdiv. (2) and replace references to appropriation with references to available funding, designated existing provisions re applications submitted on or after September 1, 2007, as Subsec. (b) and amended same to add “and prior to July 1, 2013”, replace “available appropriation” with “available funding” and add provision re applications submitted on or after July 1, 2013, and added Subsec. (c) re emergency repair grants, effective July 1, 2013.