1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to early childhood literacy; education; establishing the Minnesota 
1.3 	Imagination Library Project; appropriating money;proposing coding for new law 
1.4 	in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [124D.171] MINNESOTA IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROJECT.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Program established. The Minnesota Imagination Library Project is 
1.8 	established for the purpose of improving the reading proficiency and college and career 
1.9 	readiness of Minnesota students by providing free books to young children in the state.
1.10 		Subd. 2.Administration. (a) The commissioner, in consultation with the director of the 
1.11 	Division of State Library Services, must develop, implement, and administer the project. 
1.12 	The commissioner must ensure that, under the project, every enrolled child has the 
1.13 	opportunity to receive an age-appropriate book each month.
1.14 	(b) A child is eligible for enrollment if the child is not yet five years of age on September 
1.15 	1 of the current school year.
1.16 	(c) For the purpose of administering the project, the commissioner may enter into a 
1.17 	contract with:
1.18 	(1) a national book gifting foundation that works in collaboration with local nonprofit 
1.19 	organizations and government agencies to provide free books to children from birth until 
1.20 	entering school; and
1.21 	(2) one or more school districts, nonprofit organizations, or other entities that are exempt 
1.22 	from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to collaborate with the 
2.1 	commissioner to provide outreach to local communities about the project; recruit volunteers 
2.2 	to assist in implementation and administration of the project; solicit donations, gifts, and 
2.3 	other funding to financially support the project; develop a process for enrolling children in 
2.4 	the project; or enroll children in the project.
2.5 	(d) The commissioner may require that a nonprofit organization or other entity that is 
2.6 	exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and enters into 
2.7 	a contract with the commissioner provide a matching amount of at least 50 percent of the 
2.8 	funds required to carry out the project as described in the contract. The commissioner may 
2.9 	reduce the required local match amount as funds are available.
2.10 	(e) The commissioner may receive grants and gifts for support of the project consistent 
2.11 	with section 127A.08.

2.12 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS.
 2.13 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
2.14 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
2.15 	designated.
2.16 		Subd. 2.Minnesota Imagination Library Project. (a) For the Minnesota Imagination 
2.17 	Library Project under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.171:

2.18		$
	.......
	.....
	2020
	
2.19		$
	.......
	.....
	2021
	
2.20 	(b) The commissioner may retain up to five percent of the appropriation in each year to 
2.21 	administer the program.