Committee adopts substitute for library board appointment process after contested hearing

Senator Gary Boswell told the Senate State and Local Government Committee that Senate Bill 71 (committee substitute) is a compromise intended to adjust the local library board nomination process. The committee advanced the substitute on a 7–3 vote after testimony from library directors and association representatives who said the substitute restored the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) as a middle step in nominations and that they prefer KDLA be removed from that role.

Why it matters: the bill affects how local library boards are nominated and how the county judge/executive exercises appointment authority. Opponents and library representatives said the committee substitute reintroduced KDLA’s role as a “middleman” and that the local library associations and judge executives had not reached agreement on the substitute language.

Testimony and positions Jenna Scott, Government Strategies, representing the Kentucky Library Association and the Kentucky Public Library Association, told the committee the associations supported aspects of an earlier version of SB 71 but not the committee substitute. Scott said the substitute “put [KDLA] back in as the middleman in the nominations process, which has understandably been a cause of frustration for elected officials.”

Jean Rourke, director of the Paul Sawyier Library and representative of the Kentucky Public Library Association, and Mark Adler, director of the Paris Bourbon County Library representing the Kentucky Library Association, urged the committee to allow local boards to make a single recommendation to the county judge rather than reinstating KDLA’s intermediary role.

Sponsor’s explanation and committee action Senator Gary Boswell said the committee substitute was negotiated to resolve a divisive two-and-two nomination process currently in place and that the substitute reflects a compromise with judge executives and leadership. Boswell said he is willing to consider a floor amendment to remove KDLA from the selection process if necessary.

The committee substitute passed 7–3 and will be eligible for Senate floor consideration. Several members who voted aye said they did so conditionally and signaled intent to pursue an amendment on the floor to clarify that local library boards—not KDLA—make the initial recommendation to a county judge.