LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 447
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Chapter 447
(Senate Bill 438)
AN ACT concerning
Young Readers Programs – Establishment
(Young Readers Program Expansion Act)
FOR the purpose of establishing the Baltimore City Young Readers Program within the
Division of Children and Youth of the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth,
and Victim Services to mail free, high–quality books to certain children; establishing
the Young Readers Matching Grant Program within the Division to provide
matching grants to counties affiliated services to support the establishment and
operation of book gifting services; requiring the Deputy Director of the Division to
administer the programs; authorizing an affiliated service to apply for a program
grant; requiring a program grant to be disbursed to a qualifying affiliated service;
and generally relating to Young Readers Programs.
BY adding to
Article – Human Services
Section 8–1401 through 8–1403 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 14. Young
Readers Programs”
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement)
Preamble
WHEREAS, The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services
has been funding the Baltimore City Young Readers Program since 2016; and
WHEREAS, The Program has been budgeted at $200,000 annually; and
WHEREAS, The Program is an affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library; and
WHEREAS, The Program has been undertaken in partnership with the
Banneker–Douglass Museum Foundation; and now, therefore,
WHEREAS, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has gifted over 172 million books
worldwide to children, regardless of their family’s income; now, therefore,
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Human Services
SUBTITLE 14. YOUNG READERS PROGRAMS. Ch. 447 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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8–1401.
IN THIS SUBTITLE , “DOLLY PARTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY” MEANS A
SERVICE THAT:
(1) MAILS FREE, HIGH–QUALITY BOOKS TO CHI LDREN FROM BIRTH
UNTIL SCHOOL AGE , WITHOUT REGARD TO FA MILY INCOME; AND
(2) IS AFFILIATED WITH T HE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION.
IN THIS SUBTITLE , “EARLY READER ORGANIZ ATION” MEANS A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION :
(1) THAT IS TAX EXEMPT U NDER § 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL
REVENUE CODE; AND
(2) WHOSE MISSION IS TO MAIL TO CHILDREN FRE E, HIGH–QUALITY
BOOKS DESIGNED TO AI D THE DEVELOPMENT OF READING SKILLS .
8–1402.
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “PROGRAM” MEANS THE BALTIMORE CITY YOUNG
READERS PROGRAM.
(B) THERE IS A BALTIMORE CITY YOUNG READERS PROGRAM IN THE
DIVISION.
(C) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO WORK WI TH DOLLY PARTON’S
IMAGINATION LIBRARY AN EARLY READER ORGA NIZATION TO MAIL FREE ,
HIGH–QUALITY BOOKS TO CHI LDREN IN BALTIMORE CITY.
(D) THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR SHALL :
(1) ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM; AND
(2) CARRY OUT THE PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHI P WITH A NONPROFIT
AN EARLY READER ORGA NIZATION (501(C)(3)) PARTNER.
(E) FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR , THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE
ANNUAL BUDGET BILL A N APPROPRIATION OF $200,000 TO THE PROGRAM.
8–1403.
LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 447
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(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOL LOWING WORDS HAVE TH E MEANINGS
INDICATED.
(2) “AFFILIATED SERVICE ” MEANS A BOOK –GIFTING SERVICE
AFFILIATED WITH DOLLY PARTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY PERFORMED BY A
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON THAT IS TAX EXEMP T UNDER § 501(C)(3) OF THE
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OR A UNIT OF STATE, COUNTY, OR MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENT THAT FORM S AN AFFILIATED PART NERSHIP WITH AN EARL Y READER
ORGANIZATION .
(3) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE YOUNG READERS MATCHING GRANT
PROGRAM.
(B) THERE IS A YOUNG READERS MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM IN THE
DIVISION.
(C) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO COUNTIES
THAT AFFILIATED SERVICES TO:
(1) SUPPORT THE ESTABLIS HMENT AND OPERATION OF AFFILIATED
SERVICES; AND
(2) CONTRIBUTE AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO T HE AMOUNT OF FUNDING
PROVIDED FOR THE OPE RATION OF AN AFFILIA TED SERVICE IN THE COUNTY.
(D) THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR SHALL ADMINI STER THE PROGRAM.
(E) (1) A COUNTY AN AFFILIATED SERVICE MAY SUBMIT AN APPLIC ATION
FOR A PROGRAM GRANT ON THE FORM THAT THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR REQUIRES .
(2) AN APPLICATION FOR A PROGRAM GRANT SHALL :
(I) IDENTIFY AN AFFILIAT ED SERVICE OPERATING IN THE
COUNTY; AND
(II) INCLUDE A PLAN TO EN SURE THAT THE AFFILI ATED
SERVICE IS ABLE TO G IFT BOOKS TO ELIGIBL E CHILDREN, INCLUDING CHILDREN I N
LOW–INCOME ZIP CODES WIT HIN THE COUNTY ITS AREA OF SERVICE .
(3) A PROGRAM GRANT SHALL BE DISBURSED TO AN A FFILIATED
SERVICE THAT QUALIFIES FOR THE PROGRAM.
Ch. 447 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(F) FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR , THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE
ANNUAL BUDGET BILL A N APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 $250,000 TO THE
PROGRAM.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2022.
Approved by the Governor, May 16, 2022.