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AL SB202
Bill
Status
4/11/2023
Primary Sponsor
Larry Stutts
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AI Summary
SB202 Summary: Parental Rights in Children's Education (PRICE) Act
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Creates the PRICE Program to provide education savings accounts (ESAs) of $6,900 annually (for 2024-2025, adjusted yearly) to eligible students for qualifying educational expenses at nonpublic schools, online programs, tutoring, and other approved services.
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Phases in eligibility over three years starting 2024-2025, initially covering kindergarten, grades 3/6/9/12, lowest-performing school zones, special education, homeless, foster care, and military families, expanding to all eligible residents by 2026-2027.
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Establishes the Parent Advisory Board with representatives from the Governor, Legislature, and various nonpublic school categories to oversee program implementation and review complaints, with the Commissioner of Revenue serving as chair.
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Prohibits state regulation or licensure of nonpublic schools participating in the program and protects their autonomy in curriculum, admissions, hiring, and religious instruction while allowing them to charge additional fees beyond ESA funds.
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Requires annual audits of ESAs and allows the Department of Revenue to bar parents or education service providers for intentional misuse of funds; permits private lawsuits for violations with attorney fees and injunctive relief available.
Legislative Description
Relating to education; to establish the Parental Rights in Children's Education (PRICE) Act relating to K-12 education; to secure the fundamental constitutional rights of parents to direct the education of their children; to create the PRICE Program; to establish a three-year phase-in period; to provide definitions; to establish the roles and responsibilities of the Parent Advisory Board, the Commissioner of Revenue, and the Department of Revenue; to create a process for granting education savings accounts; to establish funding mechanisms for the costs of education savings accounts and the administration of the program; to specify qualified expenses; to create requirements for education service providers; to establish an auditing, denial, and appeal mechanism for expenses, parents, participating students, and education service providers; to provide safeguards against any additional state control over or interference with nonpublic schools, their students, and their families; and to provide for legal remedies.
Last Action
Indefinitely Postpone
5/31/2023