House Bill 273 Summary

• Creates the Guided Education Management (GEM) scholarship program allowing up to 3 state-approved nonprofit organizations to administer scholarships for eligible students funded through private donations.

• Establishes eligibility for GEM scholarships for students under 19 years old who were previously enrolled in public school or entering K-1st grade and meet criteria including family income at or below 185% of federal poverty level, disability status, at-risk youth designation, or military family status.

• Allows GEM scholarship funds to cover tuition at accredited private schools, tutoring, textbooks, computers, educational therapies, standardized test fees, summer programs, transportation (up to 10% of annual scholarship), public school services, career/technical school tuition, and higher education tuition.

• Provides income tax credits equal to 50% of charitable contributions to qualifying scholarship granting organizations, with a statewide maximum aggregate limit of $15,000,000 annually for "excess" credits exceeding normal limits.

• Requires scholarship granting organizations to maintain independent audits, annual public reports on scholarships awarded and fund usage, and marketing to eligible families; prohibits government control over education service providers accepting GEM funds.