Nevada 2019 Regular Session Status: In Committee

SB 191 — Requires each public school in a school district to establish and maintain a school library. (BDR 34-562)

Last action — (No further action taken.)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2019 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

AN ACT relating to education; requiring each public school in a school district, including a charter school, to establish and maintain a school library that meets certain standards; requiring the State Board of Education to adopt regulations prescribing the minimum standards for a school library; prescribing requirements and exceptions for employing a teacher librarian; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

160 added · 156 removed

160 line(s) added, 156 removed.

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S.B.
EXEMPT (Reprinted with amendments adopted on April 16, 2019) FIRST REPRINT S.B.
191 SENATE B ILLN O.
191 S ENATE BILL NO .
191–S ENATOR W OODHOUSE FEBRUARY 18, 2019 ____________ Referred to Committee on Education SUMMARY—Requires each public school in a school district to establish and maintain a school library.
191– ENATORS W OODHOUSE ;
AND D ONDERO L OOP FEBRUARY 18, 2019 ____________ Referred to Committee on Education SUMMARY—Requires each public school in a school district to establish and maintain a school library.
(NOTREQUESTED BAFFECTEDLOCALGOVERNMENT) ~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;
(OTOREQUESTED BAFFECTELOCALGOVERNMENT) ~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;
prescribing requirements and exceptions for employing a school librarian;
prescribing requirements and exceptions for employing a teacher librarian;
new library books which are necessary and have been approved by the State Board all of Education to carry out the mandates of the school curriculum.
Existing law requires the board of trustees of a school district to purchase all of Education to carry out the mandates of the school curriculum.
(NRS 393.170) With certain exceptions, existing law also requires a school district to spend in each school year a certain amount of money on library books.
(NRS 393.170)d With certain exceptions, existing law also requires a school district to spend in each school year a certain amount of money on library books.
Section 7 also requires the State Board of Education to adopt regulations that prescribe the minWith certain exceptions provided in section 9 of this bill, section 8 of this bill requires each school to employ a school librarian.
Section 2.5 of this bill defines “charter school” as a charter school that enrolls 500 or more pupils and excludes a charter school that only offers a full-time program of distance education.
Section 5 of this bill defines “school librarian” as a person employed by a school district to provide library services in a school library and includes a person:
prescribe the minimum requirements of a school library.
(1) who holds an endorsement as a school library media specialist;
adopt regulations that With certain exceptions provided in section 9 of this bill, section 8 of this bill requires each public school and each charter school to employ a teacher librarian.
(2) employed as a paraprofessional to provide support in a school library;
Section 6.7 of this bill defines “teacher librarian” as a person who provides library - *SB191_R1* – 2 – a certification as a professional school library media specialist issued by the hold National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
or (3) who holds an associate’s degree in library - *SB191* – 2 – whether to employ a school librarian.
Section 8 prohibits the board of trustees of a school district and the governing body of a charter school from giving preference to certain employees who provide library services.
Section 8 prohibits the board of trustees of a school district from giving preference to certain employees who provide library services.
Section 9 provides that a school is not required to employ a teacher librarian if:
Section 9 provides that a school is not required to employ a school librarian if:
(1) the school is unable to employ a teacher librarian and is granted permission by the as applicable, to jointly employ a teacher librarian with another such school;
(1) the school is unable to employ a school librarian and is granted permission by the superintendent of schools of the school district to jointly employ a school librarian with another such school;
or (2), the school is located in a county whose population is less than 100,000 (currently all counties other than Clark and Washoe Counties), is unable to employ certain persons to provide library services and is granted a waiver by the State Board of Education.
or (2) the school is located in a county Washoe Counties), is unable to employ certain persons to provide library servicesd and is granted permission by the superintendent of schools of the school district for the school district to employ a school librarian to provide library services for the school.
July 1, 2025, so that those school library assistants may perform the duties assigned to a teacher librarian set forth in this bill without obtaining a license to teach or any other credentials or endorsements until that date.
If the superintendent of schools of a school district located in a county whose population is less than 100,000 (currently all counties other than Clark and school librarian to provide library services to a public school but is unable to employ a school librarian, the superintendent of schools of the school district may apply to the Department of Education for assistance in providing library services to the pupils in that public school.
As used in sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in sections 3 to 6, inclusive, of this act have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.
As used in sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in sections 2.5 to 6.7, inclusive, of this act have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.
2.5.
“Charter school” means a charter school that enrolls 500 or more pupils.
The term does not include a charter school that only offers a full-time program of distance education.
Sec.
“Library services” means lending library books and other materials for use inside and outside of a school for a reasonable period of time at no charge.
“Library services” means lending library books and other materials for use inside and outside of a school for a reasonable period of time at no charge, providing instruction on access and use of library materials, teaching the proper and effective use of information technology and providing reference services and assistance to pupils.
“School librarian” means a person employed by a school district to provide library services in a school library established and maintained pursuant to section 7 of this act and includes a person:
(Deleted by amendment.) Sec.
1.
Who holds an endorsement as a school library media specialist;
2.
Employed as a paraprofessional to provide support in a school library;
or 3.
Who holds an associate’s degree in library science.
Sec.
- *SB191* – 3 – Sec.
Sec.
6.3.
“School library assistant” means a person who provides library services in a school library established and maintained pursuant to section 7 of this act and includes a person:
- *SB191_R1* – 3 – 1.
Employed as a paraprofessional to provide support in a school library;
or 2.
Who holds an associate’s degree or higher in library science.
Sec.
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6.7.
“Teacher librarian” means a person who provides library services in a school library established and maintained pursuant to section 7 of this act and who:
1.
Holds a current license to teach issued pursuant to chapter 391 of NRS;
and 2.
May hold a certification as a professional school library media specialist issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as described in NRS 391.163.
Sec.
(a) The minimum number of books, computers and other equipment that must be maintained at each school library;
(a) The minimum number of books, computers and other equ(b) The type of facilities and the minimum amount of space that must be reserved for each school library;
(b) The type of facilities and the minimum amount of space that must be reserved for each school library;
and extent possible, to pupils in a public school for which physical space for such a school library may be impracticable, including, without limitation, a school with a limited number of rooms, substantially all of which are used for instruction, or a school which provides instruction through programs of distance education.
and (c) Methods for providing library services, to the greatest extent possible, to pupils in a public school for which physical space for such a school library may be impracticable, including, without limitation, a school with a limited number of rooms, substantially all of which are used for instruction, or a school which provides instruction through programs of distance education.
Except as otherwise provided in this section or section 9 of this act, each public school in a school district shall employ a school librarian.
Except as otherwise provided in this section or section 9 of this act, each public school in a school district, including, without limitation, a charter school, shall employ a teacher librarian.
The governing body of each charter school shall determine whether to employ a school librarian.
The board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of a charter school, as applicable, shall provide professional development to assist employees interested in obtaining the qualifications necessary to become a teacher librarian.
professional development to assist employees interested inovide obtaining an associate’s degree in library science.
3.
4.
Until July 1, 2025, the board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of a charter school, as applicable, shall not make a decision to lay off, dismiss, refuse to reemploy or otherwise terminate the employment of any person employed as a school - *SB191_R1* – 4 – library assistant to provide support in a school library only to give preference to employing a teacher librarian.
The board of trustees of a school district shall not make a decision to lay off, dismiss, refuse to reemploy or otherwise terminate the employment of any person employed as a paraprofessional to provide support in a school library only to give preference to employing a person who holds an endorsement as a school library media specialist.
If two public schools within a school district are unable to employ a school librarian as required by section 8 of this act, the schools may apply to the superintendent of schools of the school district to jointly employ one school librarian to provide library services for each of the public schools.
If two public schools within a school district, including, without limitation, two charter schools with the same sponsor, are unable to employ a teacher librarian as required by section 8 of this act, the public schools may apply to the superintendent of schools of the school district or the sponsor of the charter schools, as applicable, to jointly employ one teacher librarian to provide library services for each of the public schools.
Such an application must identify the reasons each school is unable to employ a school librarian.
Such an application must identify the reasons each public school is unable to employ a teacher librarian.
The superintendent of schools of the school district may approve such an application if he or she determines that each public school made a good faith effort to employ a school librarian, but was unable to do so because of:
The superintendent of schools of the school district or the sponsor of the charter schools, as applicable, may approve such an application if it is determined that each public school made a good faith effort to employ a teacher librarian, but was unable to do so because of:
- *SB191* – 4 – (a) Budgetary constraints;
(a) Inability to obtain qualified applicants;
(b) Inability to obtain qualified applicants;
or (b) Any other reason determined to be valid by the superintendent of schools of the school district or the sponsor of the charter schools, as applicable.
or (c) Any other reason determined to be valid by the superintendent of schools of the school district.
If a public school located in a county whose population is less than 100,000 is unable to employ a school librarian as required by section 8 of this act, the school may apply to the superintendent of schools of the school district for the school district to employ a school librarian to provide library services for the school.
If a public school, including, without limitation, a charter school, located in a county whose population is less than 100,000 is unable to employ a teacher librarian as required by section 8 of this act, the public school may apply to the State Board for a wai(a) Identify the reasons the public school is unable to employ a teacher librarian;
Such an application must identify the reasons the public school is unable to employ a school librarian.
and will provide library services to all pupils enrolled at the school.
The superintendent of schools of the school district may approve such an application if he or she determines that the public school made a good faith effort to employ a school librarian, but was unable to do so because of:
(a) Budgetary constraints;
(b) Inability to obtain qualified applicants;
or (c) Any other reason determined to be valid by the superintendent of schools of the school district.
If the superintendent of schools of a school district located in a county whose population is less than 100,000 approves an application pursuant to subsection 2, but is unable to employ a school librarian to provide library services for a public school within the school district, the superintendent of schools of the school district may apply to the Department for assistance to ensure that the pupils in such a public school receive, to the librarian.
A waiver granted pursuant to subsection 1 or 2 expires on June 30 of the following odd-numbered year.
Such an application must identify the reasons theool superintendent of schools of the school district is unable to employ a school librarian.
The Department may approve such an application if it determines that the superintendent of schools of the school district made a good faith effort to employ a school librarian, but was unable to do so because of:
(a) Budgetary constraints;
(b) Inability to obtain qualified applicants;
or (c) Any other reason determined to be valid by the Department.
4.
If the Department approves an application submitted pursuant to subsection 3, the Department shall determine the necessary actions to ensure that the pupils in the public school which is the subject of the application receive, to the greatest extent possible, library services provided by a school librarian and provide such assistance to the school district.
Such actions may include, without limitation:
(a) Imposing conditions or requirements upon the school district;
- *SB191* – 5 – (b) The employment of a school librarian by the Department to provide library services to the school district;
or (c) Any other action the Department determines is necessary and appropriate.
5.
An application granted by the superintendent of schools of a school district pursuant to subsection 1 or 2 or by the Department pursuant to subsection 3 expires on June 30 of the following odd-numbered year.
9.5.
1.
A school library assistant who is employed at a school in a school district or a charter school on July 1, 2019, shall be deemed to be a teacher librarian for purposes of sections 8 and 9 of this act at that school and any school within that school district or any charter school which has the same sponsor, as applicable, without obtaining a license to teach or any additional credentials or endorsements until July 1, 2025.
2.
As used in this section:
(a) “Charter school” means a charter school that enrolls 500 or more pupils.
The term does not include a charter school that only offers a full-time program of distance education.
(b) “School library assistant” means a person who provides library services in a school library established and maintained pursuant to section 7 of this act and includes a person:
- *SB191_R1* – 5 – (1) Employed as a paraprofessional to provide support in a school library;
or (2) Who holds an associate’s degree or higher in library science.
(c) “Teacher librarian” means a person who provides library services in a school library established and maintained pursuant to section 7 of this act and includes a person who:
(1) Holds a current license to teach issued pursuant to chapter 391 of NRS;
and (2) May hold a certification as a professional school library media specialist issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as described in NRS 391.163.
Sec.
The provisions of NRS 354.599 do not apply to any provisions of this act.a local government that are related to the Sec.
The provisions of NRS 354.599 do not apply to any additional expenses of a local government that are related to the provisions of this act.
Sec.
H - *SB191*
H - *SB191_R1*
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Amendments

1 amendment

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Action History

  1. (No further action taken.)

  2. From printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint. To committee. Exemption effective.

  3. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. Placed on Second Reading File. Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 289.) Re-referred to Committee on Finance. To printer.

  4. Notice of eligibility for exemption.

  5. From printer. To committee.

  6. Read first time. Referred to Committee on Education. To printer.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 66 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (66)

66 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 191 do?
AN ACT relating to education; requiring each public school in a school district, including a charter school, to establish and maintain a school library that meets certain standards; requiring the State Board of Education to adopt regulations prescribing the minimum standards for a school library; prescribing requirements and exceptions for employing a teacher librarian; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Who sponsors SB 191?
SB 191 is sponsored by Joyce Woodhouse.
What is the current status of SB 191?
This bill died with 2019 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 191?
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