The proposed bill establishes the Wyoming Imagination Library Program, aimed at promoting early childhood literacy by providing free books to children from birth to five years of age. The program will be administered by the Department of Education and will involve collaboration with a qualified nonprofit organization to ensure that each registered eligible child in participating counties receives at least one age-appropriate book monthly at no cost to their families. The bill outlines the definitions of key terms, such as "county based affiliate program" and "registered eligible child," and mandates the creation of a Wyoming Imagination Library Program account to manage funding and resources.
Additionally, the bill requires each county-based affiliate program to contribute 50% of the funds necessary for its operation, with the Department of Education managing these funds and providing matching funds from the newly created account, which will also accept various forms of donations. The bill includes an appropriation from the general fund to support the program and stipulates that the funds will not lapse or revert, ensuring their availability for ongoing program needs. The Department of Education is tasked with rulemaking to implement the program effectively, and the act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.