AZ HB2853

Expands Arizona empowerment scholarship account eligibility beginning in the 2022-2023 school year to include all students eligible to enroll in public school preschool, kindergarten, or grades 1-12, regardless of prior qualification criteria.

Adds allowable uses of scholarship account funds to include public transportation services, commuter passes, transportation network services between home and qualified school, and computer hardware and technological devices used for educational purposes.

Removes consumable educational supplies (paper, pens, markers) from the list of ineligible expenses that parents cannot purchase with scholarship funds.

Increases parent appeal period from 10 days to 15 days to respond to account suspension notices and allows county school superintendents to approve independent third-party evaluators if the department lacks active contracts.

Appropriates $2,200,000 and 26 full-time equivalent positions to the Department of Education in fiscal year 2022-2023 for administering the expanded Arizona empowerment scholarship account program.