Senate Bill 151 Summary

• Requires a public question on the 2014 general election ballot in counties where part but not all of the territory is served by library districts, asking voters in unserved areas whether to extend library service countywide according to a developed plan.

• Establishes a public library service planning committee in each applicable county composed of library board members, township trustees, school superintendents, municipal executives, and county commissioners/council leadership to develop a library services expansion plan.

• Requires the committee to conduct public hearings on the proposed plan, publish the plan online, and provide notice of hearings in newspapers at least ten but not more than thirty days before the hearing date.

• Library service expansion takes effect on January 1 of the second year following voter approval; if defeated, another referendum cannot be held for at least two general elections.

• Effective July 1, 2012, and modifies Indiana Code 36-12 to add the new chapter governing library district expansion procedures.