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Bill > HF445
IA HF445
IA HF445A bill for an act modifying provisions related to application periods for the education savings account program.
summary
Introduced
02/18/2025
02/18/2025
In Committee
02/18/2025
02/18/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill modifies provisions related to application periods for the education savings account program. The education savings account program is a program that provides funds to pupils who attend nonpublic schools to pay for qualified educational expenses, including but not limited to tuition, tutoring or cognitive skill training fees, educational therapy costs, software expenses, and expenses related to course materials. Under current law, the parent or guardian of a pupil is required to submit an application for payment under the education savings account program to the department of education on or after January 1, but on or before June 30, preceding the school year for which the education savings account payment is requested. The bill allows the parent or guardian of a pupil to submit such an application on or after December 1, but on or before December 20, preceding the semester for which the education savings account payment is requested. Additionally, under current law each education savings account payment is equal to the regular program state cost per pupil for the same school budget year. The bill provides that, if the parent or guardian of a pupil submitted such an application on or after December 1, but on or before December 20, preceding the semester for which the education savings account payment is requested, the education savings account payment for such pupil is equal to 50 percent of the regular program state cost per pupil for the same school budget year. The bill makes conforming changes.
AI Summary
This bill modifies the application periods and payment structure for the education savings account (ESA) program, which provides funds to pupils attending nonpublic schools to cover qualified educational expenses. Currently, parents or guardians can apply for ESA payments between January 1 and June 30 before the school year. The bill introduces a new application window from December 1 to December 20 preceding the semester for which the payment is requested. Importantly, applications submitted during this new December window will result in the ESA payment being reduced to 50 percent of the regular program state cost per pupil, compared to the full amount for applications submitted during the original January-June period. The bill also adjusts the timing of fund deposits into individual student accounts, ensuring that funds are available within 30 days of application submission, with slightly different deposit schedules depending on which application window is used. These changes provide more flexibility for parents in applying for education savings account payments while creating a financial incentive for earlier application submissions.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Subcommittee recommends passage. (on 02/26/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF445 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/HF445.html |
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