88(3) HB 27 - Introduced version - Bill Text
 
 
  By:  Harrison H.B.  No.  27
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of the Texas Parental Empowerment
  Program and an insurance premium tax credit for contributions made
  for purposes of that program.
               BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
               SECTION  1.    SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the Texas
  Parental Empowerment Act of 2023.
               SECTION  2.    FINDINGS. The legislature finds that:
               (a)    parents should be empowered to direct the education of
  their child;
               (b)    there is not one best educational option for all Texas
  school children;
               (c)    children belong to their parents, not the government;
               (d)    the best education for Texas school children is one
  directed by their parents, with all educational options made
  available and accessible, wherein money follows the child to the
  educational option that best meets their unique educational needs;
               (e)    in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue(2020) and
  in Carson v. Makin (2022), the United States Supreme Court found
  that state prohibitions on the use of generally available state
  tuition assistance programs for religious schools violates the Free
  Exercise Clause of the First Amendment of the United States
  Constitution; and
               (f)    this Act is intended to further provide for the general
  diffusion of knowledge and to empower parents of students in this
  state to direct the education of their children.
               SECTION  3.    Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter J to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER J. TEXAS PARENTAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM
               Sec.  29.351.    DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
                           (1)    "Account" means a parental empowerment account
  established under the program.
                           (2)    "Certified educational assistance organization"
  means an educational assistance organization certified under
  Section 29.355 to administer the program.
                           (3)    "Child with a disability" means a child who is
  eligible to participate in a school district's special education
  program under Section 29.003.
                           (4)    "Institution of higher education" and "private or
  independent institution of higher education" have the meanings
  assigned by Section 61.003.
                           (5)    "Non-enrolled student" means a student who
  receives instruction as described by Section 29.916(a)(1) from a
  nonpublic school.
                           (6)    "Parent" means a resident of this state who is a
  natural or adoptive parent, managing or possessory conservator,
  legal guardian, custodian, or other person with legal authority to
  act on behalf of a child.
                           (7)    "Program" means the Texas Parental Empowerment
  Program established under this subchapter.
                           (8)    "Program participant" means a child and a parent
  of a child enrolled in the program.
               Sec.  29.352.    PURPOSE. The purpose of the Texas Parental
  Empowerment Program is to provide students with additional
  educational options in order to achieve a general diffusion of
  knowledge and to empower parents of students in this state to direct
  the education of their children.
               Sec.  29.353.    ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. The comptroller
  shall establish the Texas Parental Empowerment Program to provide
  funding for approved education-related expenses of eligible
  children admitted into the program.
               Sec.  29.354.    TEXAS PARENTAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM FUND. (a)
  The Texas Parental Empowerment Program fund is an account in the
  general revenue fund to be administered by the comptroller.
               (b)    The fund is composed of:
                           (1)    money transferred to the fund under Section
  29.361A(a);
          &

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 411.109 (Government Code 411)