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 the scholarship request is received by the State Department of Education.

• Clarifies that students receiving services under an Individual Family Service Plan through Early Intervention or SoonerStart programs are exempt from the prior school year attendance requirement but must meet all other eligibility criteria.

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

• Modifies private school selection requirements by changing references from "subsection H" to "subsection G" and clarifies that requests and scholarships involve written or electronic records, with the State Department of Education responsible for notifying school districts.

• Adds definitions for "prior school year in attendance," "funding purposes during the preceding school year," and "in effect" regarding IEP documentation; becomes effective July 1, 2015.