The Imagination Library of Maine Program, referred to in this section as "the program," is established within the Maine State Library for the purposes of developing, implementing, promoting and fostering a comprehensive statewide initiative to encourage children from birth to 5 years of age to develop a love of reading and learning. [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
1. Fund purpose.
[PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (RP).]
1. Imagination Library of Maine Fund established; purpose. The Imagination Library of Maine Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established within the Maine State Library. The State Librarian shall administer the fund. All money in the fund must be used for the purposes set forth in this section. Any fund balance at the close of the fiscal year does not lapse but must be carried forward to the next fiscal year and used only for the purposes specified in this section.
A. The purpose of the fund is to promote and encourage reading by children in this State and to provide through a statewide initiative, at no cost to families of children enrolled in the program, age-appropriate books to children from birth to 5 years of age through a nonprofit imagination library organization. [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
B. The fund must be used to provide a dollar-for-dollar match of the funds needed to provide, through the nonprofit imagination library organization under paragraph A, one age-appropriate book to each enrolled child from birth to 5 years of age in participating counties in this State through a qualified local entity that agrees to a dollar-for-dollar match for purposes of the program. Books must be sent monthly to each child's home at no cost to families of those children. [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
C. The nonprofit imagination library organization under paragraph A or a statewide nonprofit entity shall serve as the fiscal agent for the fund, including the provision of all records and information necessary for the Maine State Library to report to the Legislature as required pursuant to subsection 5. [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
As used in this section, "nonprofit imagination library organization" means an organization that is exempt from federal taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, that is based in the United States and that provides, at no charge, regardless of the income of the family, books to children from birth to 5 years of age worldwide. As used in this section, “qualified local entity” means any existing or new local affiliate with the nonprofit imagination library organization.
[PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
2. Match.
[PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (RP).]
3. Duties of State Librarian.
[PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (RP).]
4. Coordination with nonprofit imagination library organization. The Maine State Library shall coordinate with a nonprofit imagination library organization or a statewide entity, qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, for the purpose of implementing the program.
The Maine State Library shall work with a nonprofit imagination library organization or a statewide nonprofit entity to:
A. Promote the statewide development of local programs affiliated with the program; [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
B. Advance and strengthen local programs affiliated with the program with the goal of increasing enrollment in the local programs; [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
C. Develop community engagement in local programs affiliated with the program; [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
D. Develop, promote and coordinate a campaign to make the public aware of the opportunity to donate to local programs affiliated with the program and to make the public aware of the opportunity to enroll eligible children to receive books through a local program; [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
E. Administer the local funding match requirement and coordinate the collection and remittance of books and mailing costs of local programs affiliated with the program; [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
F. Develop statewide marketing and communication plans of the program; and [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
G. Solicit donations, gifts and other funding to financially support local programs affiliated with the program. [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
5. Report to Legislature. The Maine State Library shall report to the Legislature, by January 1, 2024 and annually thereafter, on the following:
A. The deposits made to, and expenditures made from, the fund; [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
B. Whether any local funding match requirements were waived; [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
C. How many local programs affiliated with the program exist, where they are located and which entity or organization, if any, serves as the local partner; and [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
D. The number of children enrolled in the program and the number of books sent to enrolled children. [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
6. Confidentiality. Any records containing the name, address or any other personally identifiable information relating to the parents and children participating in the program are confidential and may not be disclosed other than:
A. In a de-identified, aggregate form for study, evaluation or audit of the program; and [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
B. With informed parental consent and for the purpose of expanding access to the program, to other state agencies, including, but not limited to, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. DDDDD, §1 (NEW).]
