,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dcbj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #af 7legislative day1 ,april #ad71 #bjbf,mr4 ,schiff 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 and ,mr4 ,booker7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to establish a program to make grants for the establishment of prison libraries4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,prison ,libraries ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,establishment ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,attorney ,general shall establish a program to make grants to eligible applicants for the purpose of providing library services to incarcerated individuals in order to advance reintegration efforts1 reduce recidivism1 and increase educational opportunities4 #c4 ,eligibility criteria ,an eligible grantee under this ,act is any ,state or territory that submits an application that includes the following3 7#a7 ,a comprehensive plan for how the grant will be used1 including project objectives1 program design1 and evaluation process4 7#b7 ,proof of the existence of a physical library at a correctional facility or the intention of creating one4 7#c7 ,data on the demographics of the population of the facility sufficient to demonstrate a compelling need for funding1 including educational level of prison population1 rates of recidivism1 socioeconomic breakdown of the prison population or any other relevant data4 #d4 ,use of funds ,grant amounts shall be used to provide library services to incarcerated individuals as set forth in section #b1 and may include usage for any of the following3 7#a7 ,education and job training4 7#b7 ,acquisition of modern materials and equipment that reflect the interests1 identities1 abilities1 and languages of the prison population4 7#c7 ,expansion of the infrastructure of prison libraries to be less restrictive1 safety permitted1 and more welcoming with design and decor4 7#d7 ,hiring of qualified librarians and staff to manage the libraries1 their resources1 and services and serve as the social coordinator for organized activities and events1 and who hold the following qualifications3 7,a7 ,have practical library management experience4 7,b7 ,demonstrated ability to catalogue1 archive1 and maintain databases and ,e-resources4 7,c7 ,demonstrated ability to organize weekly1 bi-weekly1 and monthly events and activities4 7#e7 ,literary training4 7#f7 ,digital literacy training4 7#g7 ,career readiness programming4 7#h7 ,civic engagement programs4 7#i7 ,restorative justice programs4 7#aj7 ,resident-led programs4 7#aa7 ,health and wellness activities4 7#ab7 ,cultural exchange and appreciation programs1 events1 and activities4 7#ac7 ,access to computers 7including laptops7 and the internet4 7#ad7 ,book discussion programs4 7#ae7 ,language services1 including free ,english classes4 7#af7 ,audiobooks and accessible reading materials for the visually impaired and print disabled4 7#ag7 e,books4 7#ah7 ,management of book donation programs4 7#ai7 ,audio and visual materials or multimedia4 7#bj7 ,artistic programing such as painting1 creative writing1 poetry slams1 drama1 or music4 7#ba7 ,financial literacy4 7#bb7 ,family literacy activities facilitated during in-person visits4 7#bc7 ,resource fairs4 7#bd7 ,making reasonable efforts toward building a working relationship with local public libraries1 including-- 7,a7 adoption of a standardized guideline for library management2 7,b7 sharing of resources and materials through an interlibrary loan arrangement2 and 7,c7 implementation of coordinated organized events and activities4 #e4 ,prohibited uses ,grant amounts may not be used for the following3 7#a7 ,purchasing food1 clothes1 shoes1 or hygiene supplies4 7#b7 ,payment of employee salary and benefits unassociated with prison libraries4 7#c7 ,physical and mental care for incarcerated individuals4 7#d7 ,incarcerated individual transportation4 7#e7 ,staff training unrelated to library services4 7#f7 ,general administrative functions or operations of the prison4 7#g7 ,facility maintenance unrelated to the libraries4 7#h7 ,other obligations imposed on the facility by law1 including establishment of maintenance of a law library4 7#i7 ,any other use unrelated to library services1 resources1 and management4 #f4 ,prioritization ,the ,attorney ,general shall1 in making grants under this ,act1 comply with the following3 7#a7 ,the ,attorney ,general shall prioritize making awards to grantees that are the following3 7,a7 ,applicants that follow local or national standards and guidelines for library management4 7,b7 ,applicants that add or prioritize post-secondary education curriculum to library programming4 7,c7 ,applicants with plans for tangible1 positive1 and measurable impact for their prison population1 including-- 7i7 plans for increasing literacy rates2 7ii7 plans for increased secondary and post-secondary enrollment and graduation rates2 7iii7 plans for development of technical and vocational skills2 7iv7 plans for expanded access to employment opportunities post-release2 and 7v7 any other factors that the ,attorney ,general determines appropriate4 7,d7 ,applicants with plans for numerous initiatives to maximize benefits and services for their prison population4 7#b7 ,the ,attorney ,general shall ensure geographic diversity as between grantees with regard to the ,states and territories and between urban and rural areas4 7#c7 ,the ,attorney ,general shall establish a reporting system to monitor progress1 performance1 and expenditures of grantees4 #g4 ,term ,a grant under this ,act shall be for a term of #a year1 and may be renewed annually for a period of not more than #f years in total4 #h4 ,reporting ,grantees shall submit annual performance measures1 including library activity statistics and program outcomes1 and expenditure reports to systems established by the ,attorney ,general under section #f7c74 #i4 ,conditions 7a7 ,in general ,a grantee may not charge a fee to any incarcerated individual for the following3 7#a7 ,access to physical books4 7#b7 ,access to e,books and audiobooks4 7#c7 ,access to computers 7including laptops7 and the internet within the library4 7#d7 ,access to educational and artistic materials needed to facilitate learning1 training1 or activities1 including notebooks1 pens1 pencils1 paints1 and similar supplies4 7#e7 ,printing services4 7#f7 ,any other library services or resources4 7b7 ,availability for educational programming ,a grantee shall make the library space available to post-secondary organizations and personnel for educational programming4 #aj4 ,consultation ,the ,attorney ,general shall consult with the ,director of the ,institute of ,museum and ,library ,services in implementing this ,act4 #aa4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act #aj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjca4