Read the full stored bill text
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 2930
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE HEIN.
6669H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
T o repeal section 166.705, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to
empowerment scholarship accounts.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 166.705, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu
2 thereof, to be known as section 166.705, to read as follows:
166.705. 1. A parent of a qualified student may establish a Missouri empowerment
2 scholarship account for the student by entering into a written agreement with an educational
3 assistance or ganization. The agreement shall provide that:
4 (1) The qualified student shall enroll in a qualified school and receive an education in
5 at least the subjects of English language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science;
6 (2) Except for a qualified student who is in the custody of the state, the qualified
7 student shall not be enrolled in a public school operated by , or a charter school located within,
8 the qualified student's district of residence and shall release the district of residence from all
9 obligations to educate the qualified student while the qualified student is enrolled in the
10 program. This subdivision shall not be construed to relieve the student's district of residence
11 from the obligation to conduct an evaluation for disabilities;
12 (3) The qualified student shall receive a grant, in the form of moneys deposited in
13 accordance with section 135.714, in the qualified student's Missouri empowerment
14 scholarship account;
15 (4) The moneys deposited in the qualified student's Missouri empowerment
16 scholarship account shall be used only for the following expenses of the qualified student:
17 (a) T uition or fees at a qualified school;
EXPLANA TION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law . Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
18 (b) T extbooks required by a qualified school;
19 (c) Educational therapies or services from a licensed or accredited practitioner or
20 provider including, but not limited to, licensed or accredited paraprofessionals or educational
21 aides;
22 (d) T utoring services;
23 (e) Curriculum;
24 (f) T uition or fees for a private virtual school;
25 (g) Fees for a nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement test, advanced
26 placement examinations, international baccalaureate examinations, or any examinations
27 related to college or university admission;
28 (h) Fees for management of the Missouri empowerment scholarship account by firms
29 selected by the educational assistance or ganization;
30 (i) Services provided by a public school including, but not limited to, individual
31 classes and extracurricular programs;
32 (j) Computer hardware or other technological devices that are used to help meet the
33 qualified student's educational needs and that are approved by an educational assistance
34 or ganization;
35 (k) Fees for summer education programs and specialized after -school education
36 programs;
37 (l) T ransportation costs for mileage to and from a qualified school; and
38 (5) Moneys deposited in the qualified student's Missouri empowerment scholarship
39 account shall not be used for the following:
40 (a) Consumable educational supplies including, but not limited to, paper , pens,
41 pencils, or markers;
42 (b) T uition at a private school located outside of the state of Missouri; and
43 (c) Payments or reimbursements to any person related within the third degree of
44 consanguinity or affinit y to a qualified student.
45 2. Missouri empowerment scholarship accounts are renewable on an annual basis
46 upon request of the parent of a qualified student. Notwithstanding any changes to the
47 qualified student's multidisciplinary evaluation team plan, a student who has previously
48 qualified for a Missouri empowerment scholarship account shall remain eligible to apply for
49 renewal until the student completes high school and submits scores to the state treasurer from
50 a nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement test, advanced placement
5 1 examination, international baccalaureate examination, or any examination related to college
52 or university admission purchased with Missouri empowerment scholarship account funds.
53 When applying for re newal, the student shall pr ovide pr oof that the student rem ains a
54 member of a household whose total annual income does not exceed an amount equal to
HB 2930 2
55 thr ee hundred per cent of the income standard used to qualify for fr ee and red uced price
56 lunches. If a student exceeds such income amount, the student shall be ineligible for the
57 upcoming school year .
58 3. A signed agreement under this section shall satisfy the compulsory school
59 attendance requirements of section 167.031.
60 4. A qualified school or a provider of services purchased under this section shall not
61 share, refund, or rebate any Missouri empowerment scholarship account moneys with the
62 parent or qualified student in any manner .
63 5. If a qualified student withdraws from the program by enrolling in a school other
64 than a qualified school or is disqualified from the program under the provisions of section
65 166.710, the qualified student's Missouri empowerment scholarship account shall be closed
66 and any remaining funds shall be returned to the educational assistance or ganization for
67 redistribution to other qualified students. Under such circumstances, the obligation to provide
68 an education for such student shall transfer back to the student's district of residence.
69 6. Any funds remaining in a qualified student's Missouri empowerment scholarship
70 account at the end of a school year shall remain in the account and shall not be returned to the
71 educational assistance or ganization. Any funds remaining in a qualified student's Missouri
72 empowerment scholarship account upon graduation from a qualified school shall be returned
73 to the educational assistance or ganization for redistribution to other qualified students.
74 7. Moneys received under sections 166.700 to 166.720 shall not constitute Missouri
75 taxable income to the parent of the qualified student.
✔
HB 2930 3