MT SB486

School districts may elect to have the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) cover the ESA remittance amount during a student's first year of participation in the Montana Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account program

When a district chooses this option, OPI uses BASE aid appropriation funds and reduces the district's BASE aid payment in the first year the student leaves the program

The repayment amount is adjusted for inflation based on legislative increases to basic and per-ANB entitlement amounts since the student's first year of participation

Amends Section 20-7-1709, MCA governing the special needs ESA program funding and administration

Effective July 1, 2025