Chapter 271 Oregon Laws 2001

AN ACT

HB 3352

Relating to books for eligible children.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. As used in section 2 of this 2001 Act:

(1) “Participating school” means a public school, public charter school or private school that collects donated books from students, civic groups and members of the community for distribution to children who have few books at home.

(2) “Recipient school” means a public school or public charter school that receives donated books for distribution to students attending the school.

SECTION 2. (1) There is created the Spread the Word Program in the Department of Education. The purpose of the program is to provide books to elementary school children in kindergarten through grade five who have few books at home. Under the program, participating schools, individuals and civic groups may collect children’s books that shall be donated to recipient schools for distribution to eligible children.

(2) The department shall:

(a) Establish assessment criteria to identify children eligible to receive books under the program; and

(b) Develop an informational brochure on the program and distribute the brochure to public schools and public charter schools in this state.

(3) Participating schools that are not private schools shall:

(a) Conduct book drives;

(b) Review donated books to ensure that they are appropriate for young children and in satisfactory condition for distribution;

(c) Count, sort and pack the books; and

(d) Contact the school district to report the approximate number of books to be collected by the school district for distribution to needy children who have few books at home.

(4) Participating schools that are private schools and individuals and civic groups may deliver donated books to a participating school that is a public school or public charter school for review and collection as provided in subsection (3) of this section.

(5) School districts shall:

(a) Collect donated books from participating schools within the district; and

(b) Arrange for the donated books to be transported to the recipient school.

(6) A recipient school shall distribute books to those children identified as eligible under criteria developed by the department under subsection (2) of this section.

(7) Records of children who receive books pursuant to this section are not public records.

Approved by the Governor May 31, 2001

Filed in the office of Secretary of State May 31, 2001

Effective date January 1, 2002

__________