The bill amends the West Virginia Hope Scholarship Program by establishing new eligibility criteria and modifying existing conditions for participation. It specifies that eligible recipients must be children of parents with a federal adjusted gross income of less than $100,000 and requires parents to provide proof of their child's West Virginia residency and income. Additionally, any unused funds in a Hope Scholarship account at the end of the fiscal year will be transferred to the county school district where the student resides, and the use of funds for out-of-state education services is prohibited.

Key changes include a revised definition of "education service provider" and "participating school," mandating that these entities be physically located in West Virginia. The bill also requires education service providers to submit a notice of participation, provide receipts for qualifying expenses, and conduct criminal background checks on employees interacting with Hope Scholarship students. Importantly, while the bill enforces these requirements, it maintains the independence and autonomy of education service providers without expanding state regulatory authority beyond necessary enforcement of the program's requirements.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-31-2, 18-31-5, 18-31-6, 18-31-7, 18-31-8, 18-31-11