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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a statewide Imagination Library |
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program by the State Board of Education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 33, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 33.911 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.911. STATEWIDE IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROGRAM. (a) |
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In this section, "board" means the State Board of Education. |
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(b) Using money described by Subsection (d), the board shall |
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establish a statewide Imagination Library program in partnership |
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with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library or a similar book |
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distribution program to encourage children to develop a love of |
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reading and learning by mailing age-appropriate books on a monthly |
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basis to children five years of age or younger who register for the |
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program. |
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(c) The board shall: |
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(1) identify and recruit local affiliates across the |
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state to participate in the program; |
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(2) assist local affiliates in the development, |
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coordination, and promotion of the program in the affiliates' |
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respective communities; |
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(3) develop, coordinate, and promote a statewide |
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public awareness campaign to inform: |
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(A) donors regarding opportunities to |
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financially support the program and local affiliates; and |
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(B) the public regarding the program, including |
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how to register eligible children into the program; and |
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(4) coordinate the collection and remittance of |
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program costs for books and mailing. |
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(d) The board may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and |
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donations from any public or private source for purposes of the |
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program. |
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(e) The board may adopt rules as necessary to implement this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |