SF 1996

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/05/2019 09:13am

A bill for an act
relating to early childhood literacy; education; establishing the Minnesota
Imagination Library Project; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law
in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [124D.171] MINNESOTA IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROJECT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Program established. new text end

new text begin The Minnesota Imagination Library Project is
established for the purpose of improving the reading proficiency and college and career
readiness of Minnesota students by providing free books to young children in the state.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Administration. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner, in consultation with the director of the
Division of State Library Services, must develop, implement, and administer the project.
The commissioner must ensure that, under the project, every enrolled child has the
opportunity to receive an age-appropriate book each month.
new text end

new text begin (b) A child is eligible for enrollment if the child is not yet five years of age on September
1 of the current school year.
new text end

new text begin (c) For the purpose of administering the project, the commissioner may enter into a
contract with:
new text end

new text begin (1) a national book gifting foundation that works in collaboration with local nonprofit
organizations and government agencies to provide free books to children from birth until
entering school; and
new text end

new text begin (2) one or more school districts, nonprofit organizations, or other entities that are exempt
from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to collaborate with the
commissioner to provide outreach to local communities about the project; recruit volunteers
to assist in implementation and administration of the project; solicit donations, gifts, and
other funding to financially support the project; develop a process for enrolling children in
the project; or enroll children in the project.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner may require that a nonprofit organization or other entity that is
exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and enters into
a contract with the commissioner provide a matching amount of at least 50 percent of the
funds required to carry out the project as described in the contract. The commissioner may
reduce the required local match amount as funds are available.
new text end

new text begin (e) The commissioner may receive grants and gifts for support of the project consistent
with section 127A.08.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department of Education. new text end

new text begin The sums indicated in this section are
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years
designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Minnesota Imagination Library Project. new text end

new text begin (a) For the Minnesota Imagination
Library Project under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.171:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2020 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2021 new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may retain up to five percent of the appropriation in each year to
administer the program.
new text end