SB 1160 - This act establishes the "Imagination Library of Missouri Program," within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Childhood. The act requires the Office of Childhood to establish a bureau within such office that will be responsible for the "Dolly Parton's Imagination Library". Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, the Office of Childhood will coordinate with school districts to provide a reading selection to all eligible children ages birth to five years old on a monthly basis. The act also creates the "Imagination Library of Missouri Program Fund" and directs the General Assembly to appropriate at least $5 million annually to the fund and for the Department to develop rules to distribute the funds to school districts. The program will sunset six years from the effective date.
This act is similar to HCS/HB 2567 (2022), a provision in the truly agreed CCS#2/HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 681 & 662 (2022), and a provision in HCS/HB 1753 (2022).
JAMIE ANDREWS