AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-181-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A PARENT, GUARDIAN, ELIGIBLE SCHOOL, OR EDUCATIONAL SERVICE PROVIDER MAY REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR QUALIFYING EXPENSES UNDER THE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT (ESA) PROGRAM AFTER A STUDENT RETURNS TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE STUDENT'S HOME SCHOOL DISTRICT; TO PROVIDE THAT, UPON A STUDENT'S RETURN TO THE HOME SCHOOL DISTRICT, ANY FUNDS REMAINING IN THE STUDENT'S ESA AFTER REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS HAVE BEEN PROCESSED SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE HOME DISTRICT; TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDS FROM A CLOSED ESA TO THE STATE GENERAL FUND AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IF THE STUDENT HAS NOT RETURNED TO THE HOME DISTRICT; TO AMEND SECTION 37-181-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE LIMIT ON NEW ENROLLMENT IN THE ESA PROGRAM OF 500 ADDITIONAL STUDENTS PER YEAR; TO PROVIDE THAT EACH STUDENT'S ESA SHALL BE FUNDED AT AN AMOUNT EQUIVALENT TO THE STUDENT BASE AMOUNT UNDER THE TOTAL FUNDING FORMULA; TO AMEND SECTION 37-181-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEDUCT AN AMOUNT UP TO A LIMIT OF 6% FROM APPROPRIATIONS USED TO FUND ESAS TO COVER THE COSTS OF OVERSEEING THE FUNDS AND ADMINISTERING THE ESA PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT AN APPLICATION OR AUTHORIZATION PROCESS TO DETERMINE THE ELIGIBILITY OF NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ESA PROGRAM; TO AMEND SECTION 37-181-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE ALL ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS TO ADVISE PARENTS OF STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR OTHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS TO APPLY FOR THOSE PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF THE ESA PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS TO TAKE THE SAME ASSESSMENT AT THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR; TO LIMIT THE TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE; TO PROVIDE A MEASURE OF FLEXIBILITY IF THE STANDARD ASSESSMENT TYPES ARE INAPPROPRIATE DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE STUDENT'S DISABILITY; TO AMEND SECTION 37-181-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS, OR THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN WHO SUBMITTED THE ESA APPLICATION, TO SUBMIT INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 37-181-1, 37-181-3, 37-181-11, 37-181-13, 37-181-19, 37-181-21 AND 37-181-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 37-181-5, 37-181-7, 37-181-9, 37-181-15, 37-181-17, 37-181-1, 37-181-3, 37-181-11, 37-181-13, 37-181-19, 37-181-21, 37-181-23
Committee Substitute: 37-181-5, 37-181-7, 37-181-9, 37-181-15, 37-181-17, 37-181-1, 37-181-3, 37-181-11, 37-181-13, 37-181-19, 37-181-21, 37-181-23
As Passed by the Senate: 37-181-5, 37-181-7, 37-181-9, 37-181-15, 37-181-17, 37-181-1, 37-181-3, 37-181-11, 37-181-13, 37-181-19, 37-181-21, 37-181-23