Bill > LB481

This bill establishes the Foster Child Scholarships Act, which creates a HOPE Scholarship program to provide financial aid for foster children and their siblings to attend private schools. The bill defines key terms, including eligible students (foster children or their siblings), eligible schools (non-profit private schools meeting specific criteria), and HOPE Scholarships (financial grants for education). The Department of Health and Human Services will administer the program, offering scholarships to eligible students starting in the 2025-26 school year. Students can retain scholarship eligibility until high school graduation or age 21, regardless of their foster care status. The program aims to increase educational opportunities by allowing foster children to attend private schools, with an annual reporting requirement that includes demographic and financial data about scholarship recipients. The Legislature intends to appropriate $200,000 from the General Fund for the first two fiscal years to support the program. The bill includes an emergency clause, meaning it will take effect immediately upon passage, and explicitly states that participating schools are not required to admit or retain scholarship students and that the state cannot influence their policies.

Health and Social Services

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59668