This bill amends the education freedom accounts (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 household income must match the state-mandated income threshold, which is set at or below 350 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The previous provision that allowed students to qualify without meeting an income threshold in subsequent years has been removed. Additionally, the bill 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 introduces a new requirement for the Department of Education to report annually on EFA participation in towns with populations over 500 and mandates 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