California State Capitol in Sacramento (Photo – Coolcaesar)
Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D‑Pasadena) issued a sharply worded statement following a series of Senate Budget oversight hearings examining the failed implementation of AB 157, a 2022 law intended to provide free books to young children through a statewide partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
By News Desk
According to Pérez, the bipartisan hearings have revealed “serious questions about how public funds were used” after the California State Library bypassed the Legislature’s directive to partner directly with the Dollywood Foundation. Instead, the State Library created a separate nonprofit—the Strong Reader Partnership—to administer the program without legislative approval.
The Strong Reader Partnership spent $1.1 million in state funds, yet by 2025, Pérez said, “there was no clear documentation showing any books had been distributed.”
In late 2025, the state reclaimed the remaining funds from the nonprofit and redirected them to the Dollywood Foundation. Budget Committee staff made repeated attempts throughout the past year to obtain documentation from the State Library detailing how the original funds were used, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
During a March 12 Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 hearing, Pérez gave the State Library a one‑week deadline to provide all outstanding financial records, including receipts and invoices. The committee confirmed on March 19 that additional documents had been received and were under review.
At the latest hearing, the State Librarian and representatives from the Strong Reader Partnership returned to answer questions about the funding trail. Pérez acknowledged their participation but said “important gaps remain between the information the committee has been requesting and the documentation and responses provided.”
The subcommittee will issue a summary of preliminary concerns based on the materials received so far. Due to the lack of sufficient answers, Pérez announced that the committee will work with the Office of State Audits and Evaluations within the Department of Finance to conduct an independent audit. The oversight inquiry will remain open until the review is complete.
“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,” Pérez said. “We have an obligation to use state funds responsibly and transparently.”
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