[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5967 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5967
To amend the Museum and Library Services Act to authorize grants to
support the use of public libraries for community economic development.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 25, 2020
Mr. Lujan (for himself and Mr. Takano) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in
addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Museum and Library Services Act to authorize grants to
support the use of public libraries for community economic development.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Public Library Innovation Space
Act''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Subsection (a) of section 214 of the Museum and Library Services
Act (20 U.S.C. 9123(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) to carry out chapter 5, $10,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2020 through 2024.''.
SEC. 3. PUBLIC LIBRARY MAKERSPACE GRANTS.
Subtitle B of title II of the Museum and Library Services Act (20
U.S.C. 9101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``CHAPTER 5--PUBLIC LIBRARY MAKERSPACE GRANT PROGRAM
``SEC. 265. PUBLIC LIBRARY MAKERSPACE GRANT PROGRAM.
``(a) Program Authorized.--From the amounts provided under section
214(a)(3), the Director shall carry out a program under which the
Director makes grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships
to establish makerspaces at public libraries.
``(b) Applications.--To be considered for a grant under this
section, an eligible partnership shall submit an application to the
Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
and assurances as the Director may require.
``(c) Selection of Grantees.--In selecting eligible partnerships to
receive grants under this section, the Director shall consider--
``(1) the viability of the partnership making the
application;
``(2) the ability of the partnership to meet the matching
requirement described in subsection (d);
``(3) the potential of the project to provide social and
economic benefits to the local community;
``(4) the support of local communities, government, and
partners for the project;
``(5) the project's potential for strengthening the
involvement of diverse and underserved communities in
entrepreneurship and economic development; and
``(6) the ability of the project to continue after the end
of the grant period.
``(d) Matching Requirement.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible partnership shall
contribute, for the activities for which the grant was awarded
under this section, non-Federal matching funds in an amount
determined appropriate by the Director.
``(2) Waiver.--The Director may waive the requirement of
paragraph (1) for any eligible partnership that the Director
determines does not have adequate resources to meet such
requirement.
``(e) Reports.--Not less frequently than once annually, the
Director shall submit to Congress a report that includes--
``(1) a description of the activities carried out with
grants under this section; and
``(2) an assessment of the effect of the grant program on
community economic development.
``(f) Treatment of Makerspaces.--The use of a makerspace supported
by a grant under this section shall not be treated as a private
business use under section 141(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
``(g) Prohibition on Construction Activities.--An eligible
partnership that receives a grant under this section may not use grant
funds, or matching funds contributed by the partnership under
subsection (d), for construction activities at a public library that
would provide extra square footage to house a makerspace.
``(h) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible partnership.--The term `eligible
partnership' means a partnership that includes a public library
and--
``(A) an economic development corporation;
``(B) a local government;
``(C) a tribal government;
``(D) a State government;
``(E) an elementary school or secondary school (as
such terms are defined in section 8101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 7801));
``(F) a museum;
``(G) an institution of higher education (as such
term is defined in section 102 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002));
``(H) a nonprofit organization;
``(I) a corporation;
``(J) other entities identified by the Director; or
``(K) a combination of entities described in any of
subparagraphs (A) through (I).
``(2) Makerspace.--The term `makerspace' means a facility
(which may be a facility at a fixed location or a mobile unit)
that is open to the public and provides individuals with access
to--
``(A) tools, technology, and educational resources
that are designed to enable such individuals to create
physical goods, including prototypes; and
``(B) educational opportunities, including
vocational training and assistance with early-stage
business ventures.''.
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