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.