The bill amends Section 20-7-1709 of the Montana Code Annotated to allow school districts the option to have the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) pay the remittance amount for the first year of a student's participation in the Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account program. This change is intended to streamline the funding process for students with special needs. The new provisions specify that if a school district opts for this arrangement, the OPI will use funds from the BASE aid appropriation and will adjust the school district's BASE aid payment in the subsequent year based on the amount provided during the student's first year.

Additionally, the bill outlines the accounting and distribution of funds, ensuring that 95% of the remitted money is allocated for reimbursing parents for allowable educational resources, while 5% is designated for the administration of the program. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and aims to enhance the financial support structure for special needs education in Montana.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-7-1709
SB0486_1(1): 20-7-1709
SB0486_1(10): 20-7-1709
SB0486_1(2): 20-7-1709
SB0486_1(3): 20-7-1709
SB0486_1(4): 20-7-1709
SB0486_1(5): 20-7-1709
SB0486_1(6): 20-7-1709
SB0486_1(7): 20-7-1709
SB0486_1(8): 20-7-1709
SB0486_1(9): 20-7-1709
SB0486_1: 20-7-1709
SB0486_X(1): 20-7-1709
SB0486_X(2): 20-7-1709
SB0486_X: 20-7-1709