BILL NUMBER:  SB 1774
  VETOED	DATE: 09/29/2000




SEP 29 2000

To Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 1774 without my signature.

This bill would require the State Librarian to provide grants to
public libraries and public access computer technology centers that
have Internet access so that they may extend the hours and days
during which the computers are accessible to the public and also
provide technical assistance at a level determined by the State
Librarian.  The bill would also provide an appropriation for each the
Department of Education and the "Little Hoover" Commission.

The 2000 Budget Act provides $56.9 million from the General Fund, an
increase of 46 percent from the 1998 Budget Act, for the Public
Library Foundation (PLF) Program, which provides public libraries
broad discretionary funding for this purpose.  Local libraries can
use these funds to provide extended hours of operation and technical
support.  This bill gives top priority to public libraries and public
access computer technology centers with "substantial local and
private support."  The lowest i ncome communities, which also have
the greatest need for access to computer technology, would not fit
this category.  Therefore, it is unclear how this bill would help to
bridge the technology gap.  Rather, it would result in a costly
program that ignores the most needy communities.

Finally, this bill appropriates $93,000 from the General Fund to the
"Little Hoover" Commission and $250,000 in General Fund to the State
Department of Education without an explanation of how those funds
would help encourage public libraries and computer technology centers
to expand hours of operation and provide technical support.

For these reasons, I cannot support this bill.

Sincerely,





GRAY DAVIS