Media Release
Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) issued the following statement on the ongoing Senate Budget oversight hearings into the failed implementation of AB 157 intended to provide books to young children after the state program did not accomplish its intended goals:
“Today’s bipartisan oversight hearing into the California State Library’s failed implementation of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, passed in 2022, has raised serious questions about how public funds were used. AB 157 was intended to create a statewide partnership with the Dollywood Foundation to provide books to young children and promote literacy. Without expressed permission by the Legislature, the State Library created a nonprofit organization called the Strong Reader Partnership to administer the book distribution instead of partnering directly with the Dollywood Foundation.
“The Strong Reader Partnership spent $1.1 million dollars in state funding, however, as of 2025, there was no clear documentation showing any books had been distributed.
“In late 2025, the State took back the remaining funds from the Strong Reader Partnership and reallocated it directly to the Dollywood Foundation to administer the program. Repeated attempts since last year by Budget Committee staff to request documentation from the State Library to learn how the state funding was allocated were unsuccessful.
“On March 12 during a Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 hearing, I gave the State Library a one-week deadline to give committee staff the remaining outstanding financial documents including receipts and invoices.
“On March 19, the committee acknowledged receipt of additional financial documents by the deadline and announced that a review of the materials was underway.
“During today’s hearing, the State Librarian returned to the witness chair along with representatives of the Strong Readership Partnership to answer questions about the funding.
“While I appreciate their participation in these public hearings, important gaps remain between the information the committee has been requesting and the documentation and responses provided. Our subcommittee will be issuing a summary of preliminary concerns based on the information we have to date.
“As a result of the lack of sufficient answers, the committee will work with the Office of State Audits and Evaluations within the Department of Finance to conduct an independent audit and, where necessary, request additional information. Until the review’s findings are complete, this remains an open oversight issue for this committee.
“As Chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education and Chair of the Senate Education Committee, I take my responsibility as a public servant very seriously especially when funding for children is involved. We have an obligation to use state funds responsibly and transparently.”
