HB 2004 Summary

• Modifies eligibility criteria for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program to require students have an IEP in effect at the time of scholarship request and meet IDEA eligibility standards.

• Clarifies that parents are responsible for tuition payments until scholarship funding begins and prohibits retroactive funding; any expenses incurred before eligibility determination are parent responsibility.

• Changes private school selection process requiring parents select from approved schools list and request scholarships by December 1; requests after December 1 are granted but funding begins next school year.

• Establishes that scholarship warrant payments must be restrictively endorsed directly to private schools and parents cannot designate school-associated individuals as attorneys-in-fact; failure to comply forfeits the scholarship.

• Effective date of July 1, 2015, with emergency declaration allowing immediate implementation upon passage and approval.