Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will continue to receive state funding, thanks to a last-minute agreement in the Kentucky legislature.
The program sends free books each month to children from birth through age five.
Earlier proposals had raised concerns about possible cuts or changes to how the program is funded. However, the amended version of House Bill 500 continues support for the program, which currently reaches families in all 120 Kentucky counties.
A version of Kentucky’s main budget bill contained a provision to reduce the state’s contribution to one-third of the cost of the books. More than 80 percent of the program’s county-level chapters said the change would force them to shut down.
Widespread media coverage led Kentuckians across the state to reach out to lawmakers asking them to restore the funding match during budget negotiations.
Over the next two days, both chambers of the legislature are expected to give final passage to the budget, which will cover the next two years.
Source: WBKO
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