Bill > SB34

This bill establishes the Imagination Library of Alabama Program through the Department of Early Childhood Education, which will partner with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to provide free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to five years old in participating counties. The program will create a special fund in the State Treasury to accept donations, grants, and matching contributions from various sources, with funds being used to send one book per month to registered children at no cost to families. The department will coordinate with a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3) status) to operate the program, with responsibilities including promoting local Imagination Library programs, increasing child enrollment, developing community engagement, creating public awareness campaigns, and soliciting donations. The nonprofit will be required to administer local matching fund requirements and coordinate program costs. The Department of Early Childhood Education will provide annual public reporting on program details such as local program locations, child enrollment numbers, and total books distributed. The bill specifies that the program will require a 50 percent match from local partners, with state funds covering the other 50 percent, and will become effective on October 1, 2026.

Education

https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/bill-search