Several voucher bills filed

The following bill summaries are from the Coalition for Public Schools, analyzing voucher bills filed as of mid-February. TCTA is a founding member and serves on the steering committee of the coalition, which comprises religious, child advocacy, and education organizations that oppose the expenditure of public funds to support private and religious schools.

House Bill 619 (Shaheen) – “Relating to an insurance premium tax credit for contributions made to certain educational assistance organizations.”

This bill proposes to provide a premium tax credit for qualified entities to be administered as student scholarships for private education by Education Assistance Organizations (EAO’s) that are approved by the state. The program would award up to 75% of the state average maintenance and operations education expenditure per student (from the previous year) to qualifying students. Students from both private and public schools would be eligible. The bill would take effect on January 1, 2024, and limits the total expenditures for the program for that year to $100 million. The Coalition for Public Schools considers this a tax credit voucher bill since there is an overt transference of taxpayer funds to private entities.

House Bill 557 (Vasut) – “Relating to the establishment of an educational expenses reimbursement program.”

This bill proposes a reimbursement from the Comptroller to parents for eligible educational expenses, including tuition to a private school. Each year, a parent would be entitled to receive a reimbursement payment from the state in an amount that is equal to the lesser of: (1) the total amount of all eligible education-related expenses described by Section 33.303 incurred by the parent during the most recent federal income tax year; or (2) the deduction amount for state and local sales and use taxes claimed by the parent on the parent’s federal income tax return for the most recent federal income tax year. The Coalition for Public Schools considers this a voucher bill since there is an overt transference of taxpayer funds to private citizens.

House Bill 710 (Patterson) – “Relating to the removal of restrictions on funding and payment of costs for certain full-time online educational programs; authorizing a fee.”

This bill allows a school district to operate a full-time online program by allowing them to pay the Texas Education Agency a one-time setup fee. The bill effectively removes the current course limitation on virtual courses. The Coalition for Public Schools considers this to be a voucher bill since it removes the course restrictions on virtual courses.

House Bill 1938 (Stucky) – “Relating to the protection of students from sexual grooming.”

This bill would provide a fully funded voucher to any parent who determined that their child is being subjected to “sexual grooming.” All of the funds expended on the student in the public school system would follow the student to any school – public or private. The bill excludes the use of monies from the available school fund or federal funds. The bill further absolves any private school receiving the voucher from compliance with any state law that was not in effect as of January 1, 2023. The bill would take effect September 1, 2023. The Coalition for Public Schools considers this a voucher bill since there is an overt transference of taxpayer funds to private citizens.

House Bill 1892 (Cain) – “Relating to improved educational efficiency by empowering parents through a program administered by the comptroller.”

This bill provides for reimbursement from the Comptroller to the parent of a child in a private school or home school at the lesser amount of the tuition paid or 80% of the state average maintenance and operations expenditure per student. The bill excludes the use of monies from the available school fund or federal funds for this reimbursement. The bill further absolves any private school receiving the voucher from compliance with any state law that was not in effect as of January 1, 2023. The bill would take effect immediately with a 2/3 vote of each chamber of the legislature or September 1, 2023, if not. The Coalition for Public Schools considers this a voucher bill since there is an overt transference of taxpayer funds to private citizens.

House Bill 2114 (Toth) – “Relating to the establishment of an empowerment scholarship account program.”

The bill requires the Comptroller to establish and maintain an Empowerment Scholarship Program. The program would pay parents with students enrolled in a private school or home school $10,000. If coming from a public school, that school would be eligible to receive up to 50% of certain costs during the first year the student is enrolled in the voucher program. The bill excludes the use of monies from the available school fund or federal funds for the program. The bill would take effect immediately with a 2/3 vote of each chamber of the legislature or September 1, 2023, if not. The Coalition for Public Schools considers this a voucher bill since there is an overt transference of taxpayer funds to private citizens.

Senate Bill 8 – While this bill has not been filed yet, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick indicated that this will be the bill number for the main voucher bill in his list of legislative priorities.

Senate Bill 176 (Middleton) – “Relating to the establishment of the Texas Parental Empowerment Program and an insurance premium tax credit for contributions made for purposes of that program.”

This bill proposes the creation of the Texas Parental Empowerment Program and provides a premium tax credit for qualified entities to be administered as student scholarships for private education by Education Assistance Organizations (EAO’s) that are approved by the state. The introduction to the bill emphasizes that private religious schools must be included. The bill requires a parental review committee to approve the providers of educational services or products but prohibits anyone required to register as a lobbyist or anyone employed by a political subdivision that hires a lobbyist from serving on the committee. The program would award 100% of the state average maintenance and operations education expenditure per student (from the previous year) to qualifying students. The bill would take effect on January 1, 2024, and limits the total expenditures for the program for that year to $200 million. The Coalition for Public Schools considers this a tax credit voucher bill since there is an overt transference of taxpayer funds to private entities.

Senate Bill 960 (Campbell) – “Relating to state savings and government efficiency achieved through a taxpayer savings grant program administered by the comptroller of public accounts.”

This bill would establish a Taxpayers Savings Grant Program. A voucher would be available to a student to enroll in a private school if they were entering kindergarten or first grade, attended a public school for the entire preceding school year, or participated in the program in preceding years. The grant would not be available to home school students. The amount of the grant would be 60% of the amount to which public schools are entitled under Texas law. The bill excludes the use of monies from the available school fund or federal funds for the program. The bill further absolves any private school receiving the voucher from compliance with any state law that was not in effect as of January 1, 2023. The bill would take effect September 1, 2023. The Coalition for Public Schools considers this a voucher bill since there is an overt transference of taxpayer funds to private citizens.