Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the Statewide Children's Literacy Program and the Children's Literacy Program of Pennsylvania Restricted Account.

Highlights:

• Defines “eligible child,” for the purposes of this Act, as a child who lives in the state and is under 5 years of age (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the Children’s Literacy Program of Pennsylvania Restricted Account in the General Fund for the purposes of this Act (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the State Treasurer to accept appropriations, transfers, gifts, grants, donations, legacies, or any other revenues, including Federal funds, for deposit into the account (Sec. 1).

• Requires money from the account to be allocated to qualified local entities that agree to a dollar-for-dollar match for the program, and authorizes the Department of Education to waive the match requirement to prevent undue financial hardship (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the Statewide Children’s Literacy Program in the Department of Education to promote the development of a comprehensive Statewide initiative to encourage eligible children to develop a love of reading and learning (Sec. 1).

• Requires local entities to use allocated money to provide one age-appropriate book to each registered eligible child in their service area, on a monthly basis at no cost to families (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits books provided under this Act from containing sexual material, pornographic material, or material that is otherwise obscene as defined by law (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Education to administer the program and coordinate with a Children’s Literacy Program Partner for implementation (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department to provide oversight to partners for various functions, including the development of a public awareness campaign to inform the public of the program and donors of the opportunity to contribute (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this Act takes effect 60 days after passage (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text