HB0076 - School Choice Act Summary

• Establishes a pilot School Choice Program allowing custodians of qualifying pupils in the 20 zip codes with highest lottery sales to receive scholarships for nonpublic school tuition.

• Caps scholarships at 1,000 per year and limits amounts to the lesser of the foundation level of support amount or actual qualified education expenses at participating schools.

• Scholarships are renewable annually through 12th grade and funded through transfers from the State Lottery Fund to the Common School Fund.

• Exempts scholarship amounts from Illinois income tax and requires the State Board of Education to report on program results by December 31, 2016.

• Establishes criminal penalties (Class 3 felony) for misusing scholarships or forging/misrepresenting information on scholarship applications; repeals the Act on January 1, 2017.