The creep towards expanding the state’s private school scholarship program continued.
Senate Bill 175, which expands the student eligibility options for the private school scholarship program, passed the Senate on a 30-5 vote.
The bill would allow any students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade to receive a private school scholarship should they meet the income eligibility requirements. Currently, the private school scholarship program has a cap on the total amount of funding it can receive set at $2 million.
Sen. Jim Stalzer, the bill’s prime sponsor, said the program is exceeding $1.7 million in scholarships awarded and this piece of legislation would “open up the opportunity” for students as insurance companies “rather than paying their taxes” for the Insurance company premium and annuity tax are donating to the private school scholarship program.
Sen. Herman Otten told fellow Senators “there is creep with this bill” citing the multiple changes that have been made to the program over the five years since its inception.
ASBSD opposes the bill, which now moves to the House for review.
For updates on this bill and others during the 2021 legislative session, check the ASBSD Blog and Bill Tracker page.