Committee advances amended bill to preserve core state library services

The Joint Committee on Appropriations voted to give HB 1041 B a due-pass recommendation after adopting amendments that preserve most state library services while reflecting ongoing budget reductions.

Representative Jorgensen, sponsor of the amendment, said the package "is a way for us to save our library," and credited the Department of Education for working to keep critical services in place.

The amendment reallocates state dollars and secures federal funding to retain core services and staff. Joe Graves, South Dakota secretary of education, told the committee the changes allowed the state to secure about $1,400,000 in federal funds and "maintain most of the programs that we were had been, proposing for cuts." Graves said interlibrary loan, many online databases, summer reading program support and braille/talking book services would continue under the amended plan.

The amendment would allow the Department of Education to retain eight full-time employees within the state library program and support a total staffing level mentioned in testimony as 17 full-time positions overall. Graves said the state librarian still evaluates databases annually on cost, popularity, overlap and appropriateness.

Committee members asked about oversight after the amended bill removes the State Library Board. Graves said the state librarian (identified in testimony as George Seaman) would remain the program manager and that he, as secretary of education, would continue supervisory oversight "as in the past." Representative Muckey asked specifically about policy-side implications of removing the board; Graves said the change was part of finding budget reductions in areas perceived to be less essential.

Representative Moore and others identified remaining reductions totaling about $825,000 (spoken as "8 20 5" in committee discussion) and confirmed that approximately $800,000 would still be cut from the prior baseline even after restoring key services.

Representative Jorgensen moved a due-pass recommendation on HB 1041 B. The secretary called the roll; the motion passed and the committee recorded 16 ayes and 2 nays. The measure was forwarded to the floor with the committee's recommendation.

The amendment and subsequent discussion focused on preserving access to statewide resources while acknowledging program and collection reductions to meet the committee's fiscal constraints. The committee did not adopt any direction that changes the state's ability to pursue federal library grants beyond what the amendment already secures.