Construction cost grants. Emergency repair grants

(a) The State Library Board shall make construction grants to public libraries established pursuant to this chapter. The board shall establish criteria for the purpose of developing a priority listing of all construction projects. In the event that the available funding is insufficient to fund projects as provided above, projects remaining on the priority list shall be included in the priority listing for the next fiscal year. Each application for such grant shall be filed on or before September first, annually, on forms to be prescribed by said board. (b) For applications submitted on or after July 1, 2013, and before July 1, 2023, the board shall grant an amount up to one-half of the total construction cost, not to exceed one million dollars, for each approved project within the limits of the available funding for such projects. For applications submitted on or after July 1, 2023, the board shall grant for each approved project, within the limits of the available funding for such projects, (1) an amount up to one-half of the total construction cost of such project, not to exceed two million dollars, or (2) an amount up to eighty per cent of the total construction cost of such project, not to exceed two million dollars, if such project is located in a distressed municipality, as defined in section 32-9p. (c) The State Library Board shall make emergency repair grants to public libraries established pursuant to this chapter for emergency repairs to buildings and equipment, as approved by the board. The board may grant an amount up to one-half of the emergency repair cost, not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars for each approved emergency repair project within the limits of the available funding for such project.