HB 45 Summary: Private School Eligibility Requirements

• Amends s. 1002.421, F.S. to revise eligibility requirements for private schools participating in state school choice scholarship programs

• Prohibits participating private schools from denying enrollment based on student's race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity

• Requires comprehensive background screening for all employees and contractors with direct student contact, with fingerprints retained in statewide biometric system and subject to periodic renewal every 5 years

• Mandates level 2 background screening for school owners/operators prior to employment, with disqualifying offenses including felonies, fraud, Medicaid fraud, domestic violence, and specified financial crimes

• Imposes requirement for independent certified public accountant reports from schools receiving over $250,000 in scholarship funds annually, with penalties including fund suspension and prohibition on enrolling new scholarship students for non-compliance