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Bill > HB951

MS HB951

MS HB951
Mississippi Autism Scholarship Program Act; establish.

summary

Introduced
01/16/2026
In Committee
01/16/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/03/2026

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An Act To Establish The Mississippi Autism Scholarship Program For Students Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder; To Define Certain Terms Used In This Act; To Provide For Student Eligibility Requirements For Receipt Of A Scholarship And Restricting Eligibility Therefor; To Provide For The Term Of The Scholarship; To Stipulate The Obligations Of Parents Or Legal Guardians, Students And Schools And School Districts; To Prescribe The Duties Of The Department Of Education And The State Board Of Education Regarding The Administration Of The Scholarship Program; To Provide The Department Of Education With The Authority To Verify The Eligibility Of Nonpublic Schools And To Establish The Process For Notifications Of Violations; To Authorize The State Board Of Education To Deny, Suspend Or Revoke A School's Participation In The Scholarship Program And The Procedures Taken With Respect Therefor; To Require That All Compulsory–school–age Children Be Screened For Autism Spectrum Disorder During The Period Between The Spring Of Kindergarten And The Fall Of Grade 1 And Other Appropriate Times As Deemed Necessary In The Public Schools Of This State; To Establish The Procedures To Be Followed In Screening And Evaluation Of Students For Autism Spectrum Disorder And Related Disorders And Prescribing Who Shall Administer The Screening And Evaluation; To Require That School Diagnosticians Receive Additional Training In The Evaluation And Diagnosis Of Autism Spectrum Disorder; To Require The Department Of Education To Submit An Annual Report To The Legislature Summarizing Student Performance, Student Assessments, Funding And Any Recommended Changes; To Prescribe Appropriate Qualifications For Administrative And Instructional Personnel; To Require The State Department Of Education To Serve As The Local Educational Agency For Those Schools; To Require The State To Pay Directly To The School Any Federal Or State Aid Attributable To A Student With A Disability Attending The School; To Require The School To Comply With The Annual Audit And Budget Submission Requirements Prescribed By Law In Title 37, Mississippi Code Of 1972; And For Related Purposes.

AI Summary

This bill establishes the Mississippi Autism Scholarship Program to provide financial assistance for eligible students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which is defined as a developmental disability affecting communication and social interaction, and characterized by repetitive behaviors, meeting specific diagnostic criteria (DSM-5). The program aims to help these students access specialized educational environments, therapies, and support services that may not be fully covered by traditional school systems. Parents or legal guardians can choose to enroll their child in a public school other than the one they are assigned to, or in a nonpublic school that meets program standards, using the scholarship to offset tuition, fees, and therapy costs. Eligibility for the scholarship requires a formal ASD diagnosis by a qualified professional, the student being between ages three and twenty-one, having an active Individualized Education Program (IEP) documenting ASD, residing in Mississippi, and being enrolled or eligible to enroll in a Mississippi public school. The scholarship generally remains in effect until the student completes 12th grade or returns to a public school. The bill also mandates autism spectrum disorder screenings for all compulsory-school-age children in public schools between kindergarten and first grade, and requires school diagnosticians to receive additional training in ASD evaluation. The State Department of Education will administer the program, verify nonpublic school eligibility, and oversee compliance, with the authority to deny, suspend, or revoke a school's participation if violations occur. The department will also report annually to the legislature on student performance, funding, and any recommended program changes. Furthermore, the bill requires public schools to provide training on ASD for educators and paraprofessionals and outlines specific qualifications for administrative and instructional personnel in participating schools. The state will directly pay federal or state aid attributable to a student with a disability attending a participating school to that school, and these schools must comply with annual audit and budget submission requirements.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Died In Committee (on 02/03/2026)

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