This bill pertains to the administration of the Education Freedom Accounts (EFA) program in New Hampshire. It outlines that applications to the EFA program can be made for children currently attending a New Hampshire public school, including a chartered public school, for a minimum of one year, or for those entering kindergarten or first grade. The bill introduces a requirement for an annual determination of eligibility based on household income, which must be less than or equal to 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Previously, income eligibility was determined only at the initial application and did not need to be met in subsequent years. The bill also mandates an annual report on the number of students participating in the EFA program in each school district.

Significant changes include the insertion of language that requires ongoing income eligibility for each school year during a student's participation in the program. Additionally, the bill amends the conditions under which an EFA remains in force, specifying that unused funds will roll over from quarter to quarter but not from year to year, and that these funds will revert to the education trust fund if not used. The bill also deletes language that previously allocated reverted funds to fund other EFAs. The fiscal note indicates that the impact on state and local expenditures and revenue is indeterminable, and the bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2023.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 194-F:1, 194-F:2, 194-F:3