HOUSE BILL NO. 2930 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE HEIN.
6669H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT To repeal section 166.705, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to empowerment scholarship accounts.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 166.705, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu 2 thereof, to be known as section 166.705, to read as follows: 166.705. 1. A parent of a qualified student may establish a Missouri empowerment 2 scholarship account for the student by entering into a written agreement with an educational 3 assistance organization. The agreement shall provide that: 4 (1) The qualified student shall enroll in a qualified school and receive an education in 5 at least the subjects of English language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science; 6 (2) Except for a qualified student who is in the custody of the state, the qualified 7 student shall not be enrolled in a public school operated by, or a charter school located within, 8 the qualified student's district of residence and shall release the district of residence from all 9 obligations to educate the qualified student while the qualified student is enrolled in the 10 program. This subdivision shall not be construed to relieve the student's district of residence 11 from the obligation to conduct an evaluation for disabilities; 12 (3) The qualified student shall receive a grant, in the form of moneys deposited in 13 accordance with section 135.714, in the qualified student's Missouri empowerment 14 scholarship account; 15 (4) The moneys deposited in the qualified student's Missouri empowerment 16 scholarship account shall be used only for the following expenses of the qualified student: 17 (a) Tuition or fees at a qualified school;
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. HB 2930 2
18 (b) Textbooks required by a qualified school; 19 (c) Educational therapies or services from a licensed or accredited practitioner or 20 provider including, but not limited to, licensed or accredited paraprofessionals or educational 21 aides; 22 (d) Tutoring services; 23 (e) Curriculum; 24 (f) Tuition or fees for a private virtual school; 25 (g) Fees for a nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement test, advanced 26 placement examinations, international baccalaureate examinations, or any examinations 27 related to college or university admission; 28 (h) Fees for management of the Missouri empowerment scholarship account by firms 29 selected by the educational assistance organization; 30 (i) Services provided by a public school including, but not limited to, individual 31 classes and extracurricular programs; 32 (j) Computer hardware or other technological devices that are used to help meet the 33 qualified student's educational needs and that are approved by an educational assistance 34 organization; 35 (k) Fees for summer education programs and specialized after-school education 36 programs; 37 (l) Transportation costs for mileage to and from a qualified school; and 38 (5) Moneys deposited in the qualified student's Missouri empowerment scholarship 39 account shall not be used for the following: 40 (a) Consumable educational supplies including, but not limited to, paper, pens, 41 pencils, or markers; 42 (b) Tuition at a private school located outside of the state of Missouri; and 43 (c) Payments or reimbursements to any person related within the third degree of 44 consanguinity or affinity to a qualified student. 45 2. Missouri empowerment scholarship accounts are renewable on an annual basis 46 upon request of the parent of a qualified student. Notwithstanding any changes to the 47 qualified student's multidisciplinary evaluation team plan, a student who has previously 48 qualified for a Missouri empowerment scholarship account shall remain eligible to apply for 49 renewal until the student completes high school and submits scores to the state treasurer from 50 a nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement test, advanced placement 51 examination, international baccalaureate examination, or any examination related to college 52 or university admission purchased with Missouri empowerment scholarship account funds. 53 When applying for renewal, the student shall provide proof that the student remains a 54 member of a household whose total annual income does not exceed an amount equal to HB 2930 3
55 three hundred percent of the income standard used to qualify for free and reduced price 56 lunches. If a student exceeds such income amount, the student shall be ineligible for the 57 upcoming school year. 58 3. A signed agreement under this section shall satisfy the compulsory school 59 attendance requirements of section 167.031. 60 4. A qualified school or a provider of services purchased under this section shall not 61 share, refund, or rebate any Missouri empowerment scholarship account moneys with the 62 parent or qualified student in any manner. 63 5. If a qualified student withdraws from the program by enrolling in a school other 64 than a qualified school or is disqualified from the program under the provisions of section 65 166.710, the qualified student's Missouri empowerment scholarship account shall be closed 66 and any remaining funds shall be returned to the educational assistance organization for 67 redistribution to other qualified students. Under such circumstances, the obligation to provide 68 an education for such student shall transfer back to the student's district of residence. 69 6. Any funds remaining in a qualified student's Missouri empowerment scholarship 70 account at the end of a school year shall remain in the account and shall not be returned to the 71 educational assistance organization. Any funds remaining in a qualified student's Missouri 72 empowerment scholarship account upon graduation from a qualified school shall be returned 73 to the educational assistance organization for redistribution to other qualified students. 74 7. Moneys received under sections 166.700 to 166.720 shall not constitute Missouri 75 taxable income to the parent of the qualified student. ✔
Statutes affected: