Bill > HB2819

This bill establishes a comprehensive penalty system for county and state boards of education when they provide misinformation to parents, custodians, and other individuals regarding homeschooling and educational options. Specifically, the bill imposes a $500 fine for each incident of misinformation communicated through any medium, including letters, emails, text messages, and verbal communication. The bill outlines several specific types of misinformation, such as providing incorrect guidance on filing a Notice of Intent (NOI) to homeschool, misrepresenting required information, including unauthorized questions on forms, and giving false information about homeschool diplomas, sports eligibility, and access to public school programs. Additionally, the bill introduces a $5,000 fine for misinformation published on official websites or social media platforms, with an extra $100 daily penalty for continued misinformation. The bill also mandates that boards of education must immediately pay fines to affected parents if they cause a HOPE Scholarship recipient to lose their scholarship due to improper or untimely paperwork. The underlying purpose of these penalties is to ensure compliance with legal standards, promote transparency, and protect the educational rights of parents and guardians.