Committee clears bill to let state library distribute surplus materials and tie state aid to reporting

The Political Subdivisions Committee voted to give Senate Bill 22‑19 a due‑pass recommendation after testimony from the State Library and the bill’s sponsor.

Senator Sean Cleary (District 35) told the committee the bill would restore an exemption allowing the State Library to send surplus, or ‘‘weeded,’’ materials directly to public and K‑12 libraries without routing each item through the Office of State Surplus. “This would bring back that exemption,” Cleary said, describing the change as a streamlining step similar to the exemption the State Historical Society currently holds.

Danny Capel, library services director for the North Dakota State Library, testified the bill also clarifies eligibility language for the State Aid for Public Libraries program. Capel said Century Code requires public libraries to complete an annual public library survey and that the bill’s proposed language would make completion of that survey a condition of receiving state aid the following year. He told the committee the change reflects a recommendation from the assistant attorney general and would help ensure appropriate distribution of state funds.

A committee member asked how many libraries would be noncompliant; Capel replied “very, very few” and said the library regularly follows up with those that have not filed the survey. Questions about whether surplus materials could be distributed to private school libraries were raised; Capel said the existing practice had been a lottery open to libraries across the state and that he would follow up with specifics on private institutions.

Representative Pileman moved a due‑pass recommendation; Representative Bosley seconded. The clerk reported Senate Bill 22‑19 passed the committee 11 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent not voting.