HB 1663 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, establishing the Statewide Children's Literacy Program and the Children's Literacy Program of Pennsylvania Restricted Account; and imposing duties on the Department of Education.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

2031 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

27101663 THE2025 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFHANBIDGE, PENNSYLVANIAKHAN, HOUSEHOWARD, BILLSANCHEZ, SessionHILL-EVANS, FREEMAN, FRANKEL, OTTEN, WEBSTER, CERRATO, GREEN, O'MARA, DAVIDSON AND POWELL, JUNE 25, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, JUNE 25, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of No.March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools;

1663amending, 2025revising, INTRODUCEDconsolidating BYand HANBIDGE,changing KHAN,the HOWARD,Imagination SANCHEZ,Library HILL-EVANS,Program FREEMAN,and FRANKEL, OTTEN, WEBSTER, CERRATO, GREEN, O'MARA, DAVIDSON, POWELL, SALISBURY, K.HARRIS AND MADSEN, JUNE 25, 2025 AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DECEMBER 16, 2025 AN ACT Amending the actImagination Library of MarchPennsylvania 10,Restricted 1949Account; (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An provisions applicable as well to private and parochialrtain schools;

amending, revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating thereto," establishing the Statewide Imagination Library CHILDREN'S LITERACY Program and the <-- Imagination Library CHILDREN'S LITERACY PROGRAM of <-- Pennsylvania Restricted Account;

ARTICLE XXIII-B STATEWIDE IMAGINATION LIBRARY CHILDREN'S LITERACY PROGRAM <-- Section 2301-B.

"Account." The Imagination Library CHILDREN'S LITERACY <-- PROGRAM of Pennsylvania Restricted Account established under section 2302-B.

"CHILDREN'S LITERACY PROGRAM PARTNER." A NONPROFIT ENTITY <-- QUALIFIED UNDER 26 U.S.C.

§ 501(C)(3) (RELATING TO EXEMPTION FROM TAX ON CORPORATIONS, CERTAIN TRUSTS, ETC.) AND ORGANIZED SOLELY TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE READING BY CHILDREN.

"Program." The Statewide Imagination Library CHILDREN'S <-- LITERACY Program established under section 2303-B.

"Qualified local entity." An existing or new local Dolly <-- Parton's Imagination Library program partnerpartner. PENNSYLVANIA-BASED <-- PARTNER OF A CHILDREN'S LITERACY PROGRAM PARTNER.

Imagination Library CHILDREN'S LITERACY PROGRAM <-- of Pennsylvania Restricted Account.

(a) Establishment.--The Imagination Library CHILDREN'S <-- LITERACY PROGRAM of Pennsylvania Restricted Account is established as a restricted account in the General Fund.

The department may waive the 20250HB1663PN2710 - 2 - dollar-for-dollar match requirement for a qualified local entity on a case-by-case basis to prevent undue financial hardship.

(e) Interest.--Any interest that accrues in the account 20250HB1663PN2031 - 2 - shall remain in the account.

Statewide Imagination Library CHILDREN'S <-- LITERACY Program.

(a) Establishment and purpose.--The Statewide Imagination <-- Library CHILDREN'S LITERACY Program is established in the <-- department to promote the development of a comprehensive Statewide initiative to encourage children from birth to five <-- years of age ELIGIBLE CHILDREN to develop a love of reading and <-- learning.

(b) Providing books.--Qualified local entities shall use allocated money to provide one age-appropriate book to each registered child from birth to five years of age in <-- participating countiescounties. ELIGIBLE CHILD IN THE QUALIFIED LOCAL <-- ENTITY'S SERVICE AREA.

A(c) BOOKMatching.--In PROVIDEDaccordance UNDERwith THISsection <--2302-B(c), SUBSECTIONthe MAYdepartment, NOTif CONTAINmoney DEPICTIONSis OFavailable, SEXUALshall ACTIVITY,match CHILDthe PORNOGRAPHY,amount PORNOGRAPHY,required NUDITYof ORlocal SEXUALprograms CONDUCT,participating ORin MATERIALthe THATprogram. IS OBSCENE AS DEFINED IN 18 PA.C.S.

§Section 5903(B)2304-B. (RELATING TO OBSCENE AND OTHER SEXUAL MATERIALS AND PERFORMANCES).

(c) Matching.--In accordance with section 2302-B(c), the department, if money is available IN THE ACCOUNT, shall match <-- the amount required of local programs QUALIFIED LOCAL ENTITIES <-- participating in the program.

20250HB1663PN2710 - 3 - Section 2304-B.

(a) Administration.--The department shall administer the program and shall coordinate with a nonprofit entity, qualified <-- under 26 U.S.C.

§ 501(c)(3) (relating to exemption from tax on corporations, certain trusts, etc.), and organized solely to promote and encourage reading by the children of this Commonwealth, CHILDREN'S LITERACY PROGRAM PARTNER for the <-- purpose of implementing this article.

(b) Oversight.--The SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE FUNDS IN THE <-- ACCOUNT, THE department shall provide oversight to the nonprofit <-- entity in subsection (a) A CHILDREN'S LITERACY PROGRAM PARTNER <-- to do all of the following:

(2) Promote the Statewide development of local Dolly <-- Parton's Imagination Library programsprograms. QUALIFIED LOCAL <-- ENTITIES.

(3) Advance and strengthen local Dolly Parton's <-- Imagination Library programsprograms. QUALIFIED LOCAL ENTITIES.

<--20250HB1663PN2031 - 3 - (4) Develop community engagement initiatives.

(6) Administer the local match requirement and coordinate the collection and remittance of local program <-- QUALIFIED LOCAL ENTITY costs for books and mailing.

<-- (7) Develop Statewide marketing and communication plans.

(8) Solicit donations, gifts and other funding to financially support local Dolly Parton's Imagination Library <--programs. 20250HB1663PN2710 - 4 - programs QUALIFIED LOCAL ENTITIES.

<-- (c) RegulationsRegulations.--The GUIDELINES.--The department may promulgate <-- regulations ISSUE GUIDELINES as needed for the administration of <-- the program.

The department shall prepare and submit to the General Assembly, no later than January 1, 2026, and each January 1 <-- thereafter, THE JANUARY 1 FOLLOWING THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR <-- IN WHICH FUNDS WERE ALLOCATED FROM THE ACCOUNT, a report that includes the following:

(3) How many local programs QUALIFIED LOCAL ENTITIES <-- exist, where the programs are located and which entity or <-- organization serves as the local partnerpartner. THE NAME OF THE <-- QUALIFIED LOCAL ENTITY.

(4) How many children are enrolled in a program <-- REGISTERED BY QUALIFIED LOCAL ENTITIES and how many books <-- those children have received.

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