SENATE BILL 1038
RS30093 / S1038
If enacted, this bill, known as the "Freedom in Education Savings Accounts (FIE)," would create savings accounts for Idaho families on K-12 age children. The act would allow dollars to follow students so parents could access the education services and environments that work best for their children. Eighty percent (80%) of the "most current available statewide average general maintenance and operations fund expenditures per full term average daily attendance as calculated by the department" or approximately $5,950.00 will be available to eligible students, based on 2020-2021 State Department of Education financial summaries. A student participating in the program must be a resident of Idaho who is eligible to enroll in a public school for any grades K-12. Parents will be able to access and spend these funds on behalf of their child for approved educational expenses through an online platform. A "Parent Review Commission" is established to provide recommendations to the department about how to implement, administer and improve the program. The program will come into effect on and after July 1, 2023.
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 02/01 | Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing |
| 02/02 | Reported Printed; referred to Education |
| 02/16 | Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading |
| 02/17 | Read second time; filed for Third Reading |
| 02/24 | Retained on calendar |
| 02/27 | Read third time in full – FAILED - 12-23-0 AYES – Bjerke, Carlson, Den Hartog, Foreman, Hart, Herndon, Lenney, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Toews, Trakel, Zuiderveld NAYS – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Burtenshaw, Cook, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hartgen, Just, Lakey, Lee, Lent, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Schroeder, Semmelroth, Taylor, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Winder, Wintrow Absent and excused – None Floor Sponsors - Nichols & Lenney Filed in Office of the Secretary of Senate |