Senate Bill 1255 Summary

• Establishes the Empowering Parents Grant Program to provide $1,000 grants to eligible students in kindergarten through grade 12 for qualified education expenses.

• Grant awards prioritized by household income: first to families under $60,000 adjusted gross income (within 30 days), then families under $75,000 (after 60 days), then remaining eligible students on first-come, first-served basis.

• Eligible education expenses include computer hardware and internet access, textbooks and instructional materials, standardized test fees, therapies, educational programs offered by school districts or charter schools, and other board-approved expenses.

• Creates a parent advisory panel of seven members appointed by the governor (3), senate president pro tempore (2), and house speaker (2) to make recommendations on program implementation and eligible expenses.

• Establishes continuous appropriation of an Empowering Parents Grant Program Fund consisting of legislative appropriations, donations, and interest earnings; requires annual reporting to legislature by December 15 and third-party program evaluation every two years beginning June 30, 2024.