4.4 Case Studies

FUNDING FOR COURT LAW LIBRARIES

Here is an example of a successful effort by the Law Library Association of Maryland (LLAM) to oppose and stop a bad bill in Maryland. Thanks to LLAM Government Relations Chair Joan Bellistri for her help in crafting this case study. We will add other examples in the future.

LLAM Stopped Bills to Disrupt Revenue to Court Libraries

In early 2008, LLAM became aware of legislation (Senate Bill 86, House Bill 247) introduced in the state legislature that would negatively affect the revenue stream to Maryland court libraries. This case study looks at the steps LLAM followed to successfully stop this bill in the legislature.

LLAM Did Their Homework

Maryland law libraries were a step a head because they had already established a working relationshipwith the Maryland Library Association (MLA) and Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The AOC informed Steve Anderson, Director of the Maryland State Law Library, about the bills and asked for his input. Steve Anderson then shared the information with the Chair of the Conference of Maryland Court Law Library Directors (CMCLLD).Chair of CMCLLD was also the LLAM GRC chair and a member of the MLA Legislative Advisory Panel

▪ They identified the problem

Maryland’s circuit court law libraries receive a portion of their revenues from the fines defined in Maryland Annotated Code, Courts and Judicial Procedures Section 7-507. The legislation (Senate Bill 86, House Bill 247) would have disrupted this revenue stream.

▪ They identified the co-sponsors

Joseph F. Vallario, Jr., Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Brian E. Frosh, Chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee sponsored the bill in the House and Senate, respectively.

▪ They identified key allies

LLAM worked closely with the AOC, the Maryland Judicial Conference and the Conference of Maryland Court Law Library Directors to oppose these two bills.

They Determined Their Course of Action

The LLAM Government Relations Committee prepared a statement and testimony as to the effect of the bills on Maryland Court Libraries.

The Committee then contacted the LLAM board and presented the information.

They Mobilized and Took Action

Janet Camillo, President of LLAM, contacted the AALL Government Relations Office for help in opposing this bill. Because of the urgency of this matter, AALL President Ann T. Fessenden wrote to Joseph F. Vallario, Jr., Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Brian E. Frosh, Chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, to oppose this legislation. LLAM also wrote a letter to the Chairmen expressing their concern.

Information on the bills was included in the MLA Legislative Day information packets that were distributed to the legislators when librarians visited the offices of their respective delegates and senators on February 2, 2008. These bills were included in the talking points for these visits as well.

The Legislative Committee of the Maryland Judicial Conference prepared testimony with the assistance of Steve Anderson, Director of the Maryland State Law Library, which was submitted to the committees.

On February 6, 2008, a hearing was held on the legislation in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and on February 5, 2008 in the House Judiciary Committee. Marion Francis, President of the Maryland Library Association, testified at both hearings against the legislation and in support of the circuit court libraries. At the end of her successful testimony, one sponsor of the bill remarked, “Madam, I believe you have just killed my bill.”

Conclusion

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