DISCLOSURE OF LIBRARY RECORDS                                                       S.B. 611 (S-2):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                     REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senate Bill 611 (Substitute S-2 as reported)

Sponsor:  Senator Peter MacGregor

Committee:  Judiciary and Public Safety

 


CONTENT

 

The bill would amend the Library Privacy Act to do the following:

 

 --    Allow a library or an employee or agent of a library to disclose library records without a court order or written consent under certain circumstances, including to report information about the delinquent account of a patron who obtained materials from the library to a collection agency; to disclose records to another library or a library cooperative for the purpose of conducting an interlibrary loan; and to a law enforcement officer under exigent circumstances.

 --    Allow a court to grant equitable relief to a person who brought a civil action against a library or an employee or agent of a library for a violation of the Act's disclosure provisions.

 --    Specify that an employee or agent of a library who knowingly violated the Act would be subject to liability to a person identified in a library record that was released or disclosed improperly; and allow the person to bring a civil action against the employee or agent if he or she knowingly violated the Act.

 --    Require a civil action to be brought within 180 days of the release or disclosure.

 

MCL 397.602-397.604                                            Legislative Analyst:  Stephen Jackson

 

FISCAL IMPACT

 

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

 

Date Completed:  9-15-20                                                   Fiscal Analyst:  Ryan Bergan

                                                                                                       Michael Siracuse

 

 

 

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.