Bill Text: IA SF323 | 2013-2014 | 85th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A bill for an act providing education savings grants for pupils attending a nonpublic school or receiving competent private instruction, establishing an education savings grant fund, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including applicability provisions.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Republican 15-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-12-31 - END OF 2013 ACTIONS [SF323 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2013-SF323-Introduced.html
Senate
File
323
-
Introduced
SENATE
FILE
323
BY
BEHN
,
BOETTGER
,
JOHNSON
,
ZAUN
,
HOUSER
,
KAPUCIAN
,
GREINER
,
CHAPMAN
,
CHELGREN
,
SORENSON
,
BERTRAND
,
ERNST
,
ANDERSON
,
FEENSTRA
,
SINCLAIR
,
and
ROZENBOOM
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
providing
education
savings
grants
for
pupils
attending
1
a
nonpublic
school
or
receiving
competent
private
2
instruction,
establishing
an
education
savings
grant
fund,
3
making
appropriations,
providing
penalties,
and
including
4
applicability
provisions.
5
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
6
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Section
1.
Section
256.7,
Code
2013,
is
amended
by
adding
1
the
following
new
subsection:
2
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
33.
Adopt
rules
relating
to
applications
3
for
an
education
savings
grant
pursuant
to
section
257.11B,
4
including
application
processing
timelines
and
information
5
required
to
be
submitted
by
a
parent
or
guardian.
6
Sec.
2.
NEW
SECTION
.
257.11B
Education
savings
grant
7
program.
8
1.
Pupils
eligible
to
enroll
in
grades
kindergarten
through
9
twelve
and
attending
a
nonpublic
school
or
receiving
competent
10
private
instruction
under
chapter
299A
shall
be
eligible
to
11
receive
an
education
savings
grant
in
the
manner
provided
in
12
this
section
for
school
years
beginning
on
or
after
July
1,
13
2014.
Education
savings
grants
shall
be
made
available
to
14
parents
and
guardians
in
the
manner
authorized
under
subsection
15
4,
paragraph
“c”
,
for
the
payment
of
qualified
education
16
expenses
as
provided
in
this
section.
17
2.
a.
(1)
By
January
31
preceding
the
school
year
for
18
which
the
education
savings
grant
is
requested,
the
parent
19
or
guardian
of
the
pupil
requesting
to
receive
an
education
20
savings
grant
shall
submit
an
application
to
the
department
of
21
education,
on
application
forms
developed
by
the
department,
22
indicating
that
the
parent
or
guardian
intends
to
enroll
the
23
pupil
in
a
nonpublic
school
or
provide
competent
private
24
instruction
for
the
pupil
under
chapter
299A.
25
(2)
In
addition
to
such
information
deemed
appropriate
by
26
the
department
of
education,
the
application
shall
require
27
certification
from
the
nonpublic
school
of
the
pupil’s
28
enrollment
for
the
following
school
year
or
a
statement
29
indicating
the
parent
or
guardian’s
intent
to
provide
or
30
arrange
for
competent
private
instruction
for
the
pupil
for
the
31
following
school
year.
32
b.
By
March
1
preceding
the
school
year
for
which
the
33
education
savings
grant
is
requested,
the
department
of
34
education
shall
notify
the
department
of
management
of
the
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number
of
pupils
in
each
school
district
designated
for
the
1
following
school
year
to
receive
an
education
savings
grant
2
and
the
amount
of
the
education
savings
grant
for
each
pupil.
3
The
department
of
education
shall
also
notify
the
parent
4
or
guardian
of
such
pupils
who
are
approved
to
receive
an
5
education
savings
grant.
6
c.
Education
savings
grants
shall
only
be
approved
for
one
7
school
year
and
applications
must
be
submitted
under
paragraph
8
“a”
for
education
savings
grants
in
subsequent
school
years.
9
3.
a.
The
department
of
management
shall
assign
each
pupil
10
an
education
savings
grant
in
an
amount
equal
to
the
statewide
11
average
state
foundation
aid
per
pupil
in
the
same
school
year.
12
b.
The
department
of
management
shall
on
July
1
following
13
the
determination
of
the
amount
of
the
education
savings
grant
14
for
each
approved
pupil
transfer
such
amounts
to
the
pupil’s
15
account
in
the
education
savings
grant
fund
established
under
16
subsection
4.
Such
amount
shall
be
available
to
the
pupil’s
17
parent
or
guardian
in
the
manner
authorized
under
subsection
18
4,
paragraph
“c”
,
for
the
payment
of
qualified
educational
19
expenses
incurred
by
such
persons
for
the
pupil
during
that
20
school
year.
21
4.
An
education
savings
grant
fund
is
created
in
the
state
22
treasury
under
the
control
of
the
department
of
management
23
consisting
of
moneys
appropriated
to
the
department
for
the
24
purpose
of
providing
education
savings
grants
under
this
25
section.
For
the
fiscal
year
commencing
July
1,
2014,
and
26
each
succeeding
fiscal
year,
there
is
appropriated
from
the
27
general
fund
of
the
state
to
the
department
of
management
to
be
28
credited
to
the
fund
the
amount
necessary
to
pay
all
education
29
savings
grants
approved
for
that
fiscal
year.
The
director
of
30
the
department
of
management
has
all
powers
necessary
to
carry
31
out
and
effectuate
the
purposes,
objectives,
and
provisions
of
32
this
section
pertaining
to
the
fund,
including
the
power
to
do
33
all
of
the
following:
34
a.
Make
and
enter
into
contracts
necessary
for
the
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administration
of
the
fund.
1
b.
Procure
insurance
against
any
loss
in
connection
with
the
2
assets
of
the
fund
or
require
a
surety
bond.
3
c.
Contract
with
a
private
financial
management
firm
to
4
manage
the
fund,
in
collaboration
with
the
treasurer
of
state,
5
including
providing
for
the
disbursement
of
education
savings
6
grants
in
the
form
of
an
electronic
debit
card
or
checks
that
7
are
payable
directly
from
the
pupil’s
account
within
the
fund.
8
d.
Conduct
audits
or
other
review
necessary
to
properly
9
administer
the
program.
10
e.
Adopt
rules
pursuant
to
chapter
17A
for
the
11
administration
of
the
fund
and
accounts
within
the
fund.
12
5.
a.
For
each
pupil
approved
for
an
education
savings
13
grant,
the
department
shall
establish
an
account
for
that
14
pupil
in
the
education
savings
grant
fund.
The
amount
of
the
15
pupil’s
education
savings
grant
determined
under
subsection
16
3
shall
be
deposited
into
the
pupil’s
account
on
July
1
and
17
such
amount
shall
be
immediately
available
for
the
payment
of
18
qualified
education
expenses
incurred
by
the
parent
or
guardian
19
for
the
pupil
during
that
fiscal
year
using
the
payment
method
20
authorized
under
subsection
4,
paragraph
“c”
.
21
b.
A
nonpublic
school
or
other
entity
that
accepts
payment
22
from
a
parent
or
guardian
using
funds
from
a
pupil’s
account
in
23
the
education
savings
grant
fund
shall
not
refund,
rebate,
or
24
share
any
portion
of
such
payment
with
the
parent,
guardian,
or
25
pupil.
26
c.
Moneys
remaining
in
a
pupil’s
account
upon
conclusion
27
of
the
fiscal
year
shall
remain
in
the
pupil’s
account
within
28
the
education
savings
grant
fund
for
the
payment
of
qualified
29
educational
expenses
in
future
fiscal
years
or
for
the
payment
30
of
higher
education
costs
under
subsection
8.
31
6.
For
purposes
of
this
section,
“qualified
educational
32
expense”
includes
tuition
and
fees
at
a
nonpublic
school,
33
textbooks,
fees
or
payments
for
tutoring
or
cognitive
skills
34
training,
curriculum
materials,
tuition
or
fees
for
nonpublic
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online
education
programs,
education
materials
and
services
for
1
pupils
with
disabilities,
standardized
test
fees,
fees
required
2
by
the
department
not
to
exceed
for
each
grant
recipient
five
3
percent
of
the
total
grant
amount
in
any
fiscal
year,
and
other
4
expenses
incurred
by
the
parent
or
guardian
that
are
directly
5
related
to
the
education
of
the
pupil
at
a
nonpublic
school,
6
including
a
nonpublic
school
accredited
by
an
independent
7
accrediting
agency
approved
by
the
department
of
education,
or
8
directly
related
to
providing
competent
private
instruction
9
for
the
pupil
under
chapter
299A.
The
cost
of
one
computer
or
10
other
portable
computing
device
shall
be
allowed
as
a
qualified
11
educational
expense
for
a
pupil
if
such
a
purchase
has
not
been
12
made
using
funds
from
that
pupil’s
account
in
either
of
the
13
two
immediately
preceding
fiscal
years.
“Qualified
educational
14
expenses”
do
not
include
transportation
costs
for
the
pupil,
the
15
cost
of
food
or
refreshments
consumed
by
the
pupil,
the
cost
16
of
clothing
for
the
pupil,
or
the
cost
of
disposable
materials
17
including
but
not
limited
to
paper,
notebooks,
pencils,
pens,
18
and
art
supplies.
19
7.
A
person
who
makes
a
false
claim
for
the
purpose
of
20
obtaining
an
education
savings
grant
provided
for
in
this
21
section
or
who
knowingly
receives
the
grant
or
makes
a
payment
22
from
an
account
within
the
education
savings
grant
fund
23
without
being
legally
entitled
to
it
is
guilty
of
a
fraudulent
24
practice.
The
false
claim
for
an
education
savings
grant
or
a
25
payment
from
an
account
shall
be
disallowed
and
if
amounts
from
26
the
grant
have
been
disbursed
from
the
applicable
account
in
27
the
education
savings
grant
fund,
the
department
of
management
28
shall
initiate
legal
proceedings
to
recover
such
amounts.
A
29
parent
or
guardian,
or
a
pupil
for
purposes
of
subsection
8,
30
who
violates
this
subsection
is
prohibited
from
participating
31
in
the
education
savings
grant
program
in
the
future.
32
8.
For
each
pupil
with
a
positive
balance
in
the
pupil’s
33
account
in
the
education
savings
grant
fund
upon
graduation
34
from
high
school
or
completion
of
an
equivalent
level
of
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competent
private
instruction
under
chapter
299A,
the
1
department
of
management
shall
maintain
such
account
in
the
2
fund
until
the
pupil
is
twenty-five
years
of
age.
Following
3
graduation
from
high
school
until
the
pupil
is
twenty-five
4
years
of
age,
moneys
in
the
pupil’s
account
may
be
used
for
5
higher
education
costs,
as
defined
in
section
12D.1,
subsection
6
2,
incurred
by
the
pupil
while
attending
an
institution
of
7
higher
education
under
the
control
of
the
state
board
of
8
regents,
a
community
college
located
in
this
state,
or
a
9
private
college
or
university
located
in
this
state.
Payments
10
from
a
pupil’s
account
for
higher
education
costs
shall
be
11
made
in
the
same
manner
as
payments
for
qualified
educational
12
expenses
under
subsection
5.
Moneys
in
a
pupil’s
account
when
13
the
pupil
turns
twenty-five
years
of
age
shall
be
transferred
14
by
the
department
for
deposit
in
the
general
fund
of
the
state.
15
9.
This
section
shall
not
be
construed
to
authorize
this
16
state
or
any
political
subdivision
of
this
state
to
exercise
17
authority
over
any
nonpublic
school
or
pupil
receiving
18
competent
private
instruction
under
chapter
299A
or
construed
19
to
require
a
nonpublic
school
to
modify
its
admissions
or
20
educational
program
in
order
to
receive
payment
from
a
parent
21
or
guardian
using
funds
from
a
pupil’s
account
in
the
education
22
savings
grant
fund.
A
nonpublic
school
or
entity
providing
23
competent
private
instruction
under
chapter
299A,
that
accepts
24
payment
from
a
parent
or
guardian
using
funds
from
a
pupil’s
25
account
in
the
education
savings
grant
fund
is
not
an
agent
of
26
this
state
or
other
political
subdivision
of
this
state.
Rules
27
adopted
by
the
department
to
implement
this
section
that
impose
28
an
undue
burden
on
a
nonpublic
school
or
entity
providing
29
competent
private
instruction
under
chapter
299A
are
invalid.
30
Sec.
3.
APPLICABILITY.
This
Act
applies
to
school
budget
31
years
and
fiscal
years
beginning
on
or
after
July
1,
2014.
32
EXPLANATION
33
This
bill
provides
education
savings
grants
for
pupils
34
attending
a
nonpublic
school
or
receiving
competent
private
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instruction
and
establishes
an
education
savings
grant
fund.
1
Under
the
bill,
pupils
eligible
to
enroll
in
grades
2
kindergarten
through
12
and
attending
a
nonpublic
school
or
3
receiving
competent
private
instruction
under
Code
chapter
4
299A
are
eligible
to
receive
an
education
savings
grant
for
5
school
years
beginning
on
or
after
July
1,
2014.
By
January
31
6
preceding
the
school
year
for
which
the
education
savings
grant
7
is
requested,
the
parent
or
guardian
of
the
pupil
requesting
to
8
receive
an
education
savings
grant
must
submit
an
application
9
to
the
department
of
education
indicating
that
the
parent
or
10
guardian
intends
to
enroll
the
pupil
in
a
nonpublic
school
or
11
provide
competent
private
instruction
for
the
pupil.
12
The
bill
requires
that
by
March
1
preceding
the
school
13
year
for
which
the
education
savings
grant
is
requested,
14
the
department
of
education
must
notify
the
department
of
15
management
of
the
number
of
pupils
in
each
school
district
16
designated
for
the
following
school
year
to
receive
an
17
education
savings
grant
and
the
amount
of
the
education
savings
18
grant
for
each
pupil.
Education
savings
grants
may
only
be
19
approved
for
one
school
year
and
applications
must
be
submitted
20
for
education
savings
grants
in
subsequent
school
years.
21
The
amount
of
each
education
savings
grant
is
equal
to
the
22
statewide
average
state
foundation
aid
per
pupil
in
the
same
23
school
year.
24
The
bill
creates
an
education
savings
grant
fund
in
the
state
25
treasury
under
the
control
of
the
department
of
management
26
consisting
of
moneys
appropriated
to
the
department
for
the
27
purpose
of
providing
education
savings
grants.
For
the
fiscal
28
year
commencing
July
1,
2014,
and
each
succeeding
fiscal
year,
29
there
is
appropriated
from
the
general
fund
of
the
state
to
the
30
department
of
management
for
deposit
in
the
fund
the
amount
31
necessary
to
pay
all
education
savings
grants
approved
for
that
32
fiscal
year.
For
each
pupil
approved
for
an
education
savings
33
grant,
the
department
of
management
must
establish
an
account
34
for
that
pupil
in
the
education
savings
grant
fund.
The
amount
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of
the
pupil’s
education
savings
grant
is
deposited
into
the
1
pupil’s
account
on
July
1
and
such
amount
is
available
for
use
2
by
parents
and
guardians
for
the
payment
of
qualified
education
3
expenses,
as
defined
in
the
bill,
incurred
by
the
parent
or
4
guardian
for
the
pupil
during
that
fiscal
year.
5
The
bill
authorizes
the
department
of
education
to
6
contract
with
a
private
financial
management
firm
to
manage
7
the
education
savings
grant
fund,
in
collaboration
with
the
8
treasurer
of
state,
including
providing
for
the
disbursement
9
of
education
savings
grants
in
the
form
of
an
electronic
debit
10
card
or
checks
that
are
payable
directly
from
the
pupil’s
11
account
within
the
fund.
12
The
bill
provides
that
moneys
remaining
in
a
pupil’s
account
13
upon
the
conclusion
of
the
fiscal
year
shall
remain
in
the
14
pupil’s
account
within
the
education
savings
grant
fund
for
15
the
payment
of
qualified
educational
expenses
in
future
fiscal
16
years
or
for
higher
education
costs
as
authorized
in
the
bill.
17
Under
the
bill,
for
each
pupil
with
a
positive
balance
in
18
the
pupil’s
account
in
the
education
savings
grant
fund
upon
19
graduation
from
high
school
or
completion
of
an
equivalent
20
level
of
competent
private
instruction
under
Code
chapter
21
299A,
the
department
of
management
is
required
to
maintain
the
22
account
in
the
fund
until
the
pupil
is
25
years
old.
Until
23
the
pupil
is
25
years
old,
moneys
in
the
pupil’s
account
may
24
be
used
by
the
pupil
for
higher
education
costs,
as
defined
25
in
Code
section
12D.1.
Moneys
in
a
pupil’s
account
when
the
26
pupil
turns
25
years
old
are
transferred
by
the
department
of
27
management
for
deposit
in
the
general
fund
of
the
state.
28
The
bill
provides
that
a
person
who
makes
a
false
claim
for
29
the
purpose
of
obtaining
an
education
savings
grant
or
who
30
knowingly
receives
the
grant
or
makes
a
payment
from
an
account
31
within
the
education
savings
grant
fund
without
being
legally
32
entitled
to
it
is
guilty
of
a
fraudulent
practice
and
is
33
subject
to
a
criminal
penalty.
The
bill
allows
the
department
34
of
management
to
initiate
legal
proceedings
to
recover
grants
35
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