{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-education-23-111","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Education § 23–111","heading":"","body":"(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.\n(2) “Affiliated service” means a book–gifting service performed by a nonprofit organization that is tax exempt under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or a unit of State, county, or municipal government that forms an affiliated partnership with an early reader organization.\n(3) “Early reader organization” means a nonprofit organization:\n(i) That is tax exempt under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and\n(ii) Whose mission is to distribute to children free, high–quality books designed to aid the development of reading skills.\n(4) “Program” means the Young Readers Matching Grant Program.\n(b) There is a Young Readers Matching Grant Program in the State Library Agency.\n(c) The purpose of the Program is to provide grants to public libraries and affiliated services to:\n(1) Support the establishment and operation of affiliated services; and\n(2) Contribute an amount equal to the amount of funding provided for the operation of an affiliated service.\n(d) The State Librarian shall administer the Program.\n(e) (1) A public library or an affiliated service may submit an application for a program grant on the form that the State Librarian requires.\n(2) An application for a program grant shall include a plan to ensure that the public library or the affiliated service is able to gift books to eligible children, including children in low–income zip codes within its area of service.\n(3) A program grant shall be disbursed to a public library or an affiliated service that qualifies for the Program.\n(f) The State Library Board shall:\n(1) On or before December 1, 2024, and every other year thereafter, report to the General Assembly on the effectiveness of the Program in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article; and\n(2) Collect statistics and other information necessary for this purpose.\n(g) For each fiscal year, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $350,000 to the Program.","path":["Article - Education"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=ged\u0026section=23-111","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:57:38Z","sha256":"e24a98db46b3f9c64451018f0292a1374d3b02485616292809a087fae284c025","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-education-23-110","next":"us-md/md.-code-education-23-112"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}