PRINTER'S NO. 1414
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
1097
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY COMITTA, KANE, COLLETT, SANTARSIERO, FONTANA,
HAYWOOD, COSTA AND CAPPELLETTI, MARCH 11, 2024
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MARCH 11, 2024
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," establishing the Statewide
Imagination Library Program and the Imagination Library of
Pennsylvania Restricted Account; and imposing duties on the
Department of Education.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE XXIII-B
STATEWIDE IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROGRAM
Section 2301-B. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Account." The Imagination Library of Pennsylvania
Restricted Account established under section 2302-B.
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"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Eligible child." A child who resides within this
Commonwealth and is under five years of age.
"Program." The Statewide Imagination Library Program
established under section 2303-B.
"Qualified local entity." Any existing or new local Dolly
Parton's Imagination Library program partner.
Section 2302-B. Imagination Library of Pennsylvania Restricted
Account.
(a) Establishment.--The Imagination Library of Pennsylvania
Restricted Account is established as a restricted account in the
General Fund. Money in the account is appropriated to the
department on a continuing basis for the purposes of this
article.
(b) Funding.--The State Treasurer may accept appropriations,
transfers, gifts, grants, donations, legacies or any other
revenues, including allowable Federal funds, for deposit into
the account.
(c) Allocation.--Money from the account shall be allocated
to qualified local entities that agree to a dollar-for-dollar
match for purposes of the program. The department may waive the
dollar-for-dollar match requirement for a qualified local entity
on a case-by-case basis to prevent undue financial hardship.
(d) Money shall not lapse.--Money remaining in the account
at the close of the fiscal year shall not lapse but shall be
carried forward to the next fiscal year and be continuously
appropriated only for the purposes specified in this article.
(e) Interest.--Any interest that accrues in the account
shall remain in the account.
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Section 2303-B. Statewide Imagination Library Program.
(a) Establishment and purpose.--The Statewide Imagination
Library Program is established in the department to promote the
development of a comprehensive Statewide initiative to encourage
children from birth to five years of age to develop a love of
reading and learning.
(b) Providing books.--Qualified local entities shall use
allocated money to provide one age-appropriate book to each
registered child from birth to five years of age in
participating counties. Books shall be sent monthly to each
child's home at no cost to families.
(c) Matching.--In accordance with section 2302-B(c), the
department, if money is available, shall match the amount
required of local programs participating in the program.
Section 2304-B. Duties of department.
(a) Administration.--The department shall administer the
program and shall coordinate with a nonprofit entity, qualified
under 26 U.S.C. ยง 501(c)(3) (relating to exemption from tax on
corporations, certain trusts, etc.), and organized solely to
promote and encourage reading by the children of this
Commonwealth, for the purpose of implementing this article.
(b) Oversight.--The department shall provide oversight to
the nonprofit entity in subsection (a) to do all of the
following:
(1) Manage the daily operations of the program.
(2) Promote the Statewide development of local Dolly
Parton's Imagination Library programs.
(3) Advance and strengthen local Dolly Parton's
Imagination Library programs.
(4) Develop community engagement initiatives.
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(5) Develop, promote and coordinate a public awareness
campaign to make donors aware of the opportunity to donate to
the affiliate programs and make the public aware of the
opportunity to register eligible children to receive books
through the program.
(6) Administer the local match requirement and
coordinate the collection and remittance of local program
costs for books and mailing.
(7) Develop Statewide marketing and communication plans.
(8) Solicit donations, gifts and other funding to
financially support local Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
programs.
(c) Regulations.--The department may promulgate regulations
as needed for the administration of the program.
Section 2305-B. Report.
The department shall prepare and submit to the General
Assembly, no later than January 1, 2025, and each January 1
thereafter, a report that includes, but is not limited to, the
following:
(1) The deposits made to, and expenditures made from,
the account.
(2) Whether the department waived any local match
requirements.
(3) How many local programs exist, where the programs
are located and which entity or organization serves as the
local partner.
(4) How many children are enrolled in a program and how
many books those children have received.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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