Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the powers and duties of library boards of trustees to hire and terminate library directors.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE BILL NO. 715 BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE AN ACT1 RELATING TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES; AMENDING SECTION 33-2607, IDAHO CODE, TO2 REVISE PROVISIONS REGARDING THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY3 BOARDS OF TRUSTEES AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AMENDING SECTION4 33-2608, IDAHO CODE, TO REVISE PROVISIONS REGARDING LIBRARY DIRECTORS5 OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AND DECLARING AN6 EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.7

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:8

SECTION 1. That Section 33-2607, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby9 amended to read as follows:10 33-2607. POWERS AND DUTIES OF TRUSTEES. In addition to the powers11 elsewhere contained in this chapter and notwithstanding the provisions of12 title 50, Idaho Code, the board of trustees of each city library shall have13 the following powers and duties:14 (1) To establish bylaws for its own governance;15 (2) To establish policies and rules of use for the governance of the li-16 brary or libraries under its control; to exclude from the use of the library17 any and all persons who violate such rules;18 (3) To establish, locate, maintain, and have custody of libraries to19 serve the city, and to provide suitable rooms, structures, facilities, fur-20 niture, apparatus, and appliances necessary for library service;21 (4) With the approval of the city:22 (a) To acquire real property by purchase, gift, devise, lease, or oth-23 erwise;24 (b) To own and hold real and personal property and to construct build-25 ings for the use and purposes of the library;26 (c) To sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of real or personal prop-27 erty when no longer required by the library; and28 (d) To insure the real and personal property of the library;29 (5) To prepare and adopt a budget for review and approval by the city30 council;31 (6) To control the expenditures of money budgeted for the library;32 (7) To accept or decline gifts of money or personal property, in accor-33 dance with library policy, and under such terms as may be a condition of the34 gift;35 (8) To hire, supervise and evaluate the library director supervise and36 evaluate the library director and, with the approval of a majority of the37 members of the city council, to hire and terminate the library director;38 (9) To establish policies for the purchase and distribution of library39 materials;40 (10) To attend all meetings of the board of trustees;41 (11) To maintain legal records of all board business;42

2 (12) To exercise such other powers, not inconsistent with law, neces-1 sary for the orderly and efficient management of the library.2

SECTION 2. That Section 33-2608, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby3 amended to read as follows:4 33-2608. LIBRARY DIRECTOR -- DUTIES -- OTHER EMPLOYEES. (1) The board5 of trustees of each city library shall appoint the library director, who6 shall serve at the pleasure of the board. with the approval of a majority of7 the members of the city council. The board may terminate the library direc-8 tor with the approval of a majority of the members of the city council. The9 library director shall advise the board, implement policy set by the board,10 supervise all library staff, and shall acquire library materials, equip-11 ment, and supplies. The library director shall attend all board meetings but12 shall not vote.13 (2) With the recommendation of the library director, the board shall14 budget to hire other employees as may be necessary for the operation of the15 library. The library director shall hire or oversee the hiring of all other16 employees based on the policies, procedures, and job descriptions of the17 city. These employees shall be employees of the city and subject to the18 city's personnel policies and classifications unless otherwise provided by19 city ordinance.20

SECTION 3. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby21 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after22 July 1, 2026.23