This bill amends the education freedom account (EFA) program by updating income eligibility criteria and reporting requirements. Specifically, it defines an "eligible student" as a resident who can enroll in public schools and whose annual household income must match the state-mandated income threshold, which is set at or below 350 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The bill removes the provision that allowed students to qualify without meeting the income threshold in subsequent years. Additionally, it clarifies that students in the special school district within the department of corrections are not eligible for the program.

The bill also modifies the administration of EFAs by allowing unused funds to roll over from quarter to quarter and until the student becomes ineligible or graduates, rather than from year to year. It mandates that the Department of Education report annually on EFA participation in towns with populations over 500 and requires randomized income verification audits for a third of participating families. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

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