This bill amends existing laws to allow students to use education freedom account (EFA) funds for career and technical education (CTE) expenses. Specifically, it changes the language in RSA 188-E:6, IV, replacing "state board" with "department" of education and requiring the department to develop a formula for determining tuition and transportation costs for approved CTE programs. Additionally, RSA 188-E:7 is repealed and reenacted to authorize the department to pay tuition and transportation costs for part-time district students enrolled in CTE programs who receive EFA grants. The bill also establishes a new paragraph in RSA 188-E:9, requiring the department to create separate funds for tuition and transportation and to determine their costs annually.

Furthermore, the bill amends RSA 188-E:8 to allow the department to reimburse transportation costs based on a formula that considers vehicle type, mileage, and trip frequency, while also ensuring that the reimbursement is not dependent on the number of students using a vehicle. It introduces a new requirement in RSA 194-F:4 for the scholarship organization to provide information about CTE enrollment to EFA students in grades 9-12. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 188-E:6, 188-E:8, 188-E:9, 194-F:4
SB491 text: 188-E:6, 188-E:8, 188-E:9, 194-F:4