The bill amends Florida Statutes concerning the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program by expanding the authorized uses of scholarship funds. It allows families to use these funds for tuition and fees related to home education instructional programs and customized instructional programs, which are now defined within the bill. Additionally, the list of authorized uses for program funds is revised to include instructional materials and services associated with these new definitions, thereby providing greater flexibility for families in utilizing scholarship funds for educational purposes.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new requirements for nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations, including mandatory background screenings for owners and operators and the maintenance of separate scholarship accounts for each eligible student. The Department of Education is also tasked with submitting an annual list of eligible organizations and verifying their compliance with the specified requirements. Notably, the bill includes an insertion that updates the reference to the requirements for eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations, reflecting a reorganization of the legal framework for clarity. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1565 Filed: 402.302
H 1565 c1: 1002.394