Authorizes university laboratory schools to participate in the student tuition organization tax credit program (EN SEE FISC NOTE SG RV See Note)
Impact
The bill, if enacted, will alter the landscape of school funding in Louisiana by creating wider access to scholarships for students attending qualified nonpublic and public schools. This could significantly impact education funding dynamics, especially for low-income families, as it may encourage more donations to school tuition organizations, which, in turn, can allocate funds for scholarships. The provisions for checks on criminal backgrounds of school employees also aim to ensure safety and accountability within participating schools, thus benefitting the overall educational environment.
Summary
House Bill 477 amends the Louisiana income tax code to streamline and expand the income tax credit program for donations made to school tuition organizations. This legislative change aims to enhance educational opportunities for students by allowing more schools to participate in receiving donations for scholarships. Specifically, it includes provisions for university laboratory schools to join the tax credit program, thereby increasing the number of eligible institutions that can benefit from this financial support. The bill sets eligibility requirements for schools and establishes specific regulations to ensure compliance with state education laws.
Sentiment
Overall, the sentiment surrounding HB 477 appears to be positive among supporters who view it as a beneficial measure to promote educational choice and accessibility. Proponents argue that increasing the number of schools eligible for tax credits will contribute to better funding and improvements in education quality. However, concerns may exist regarding the equitable distribution of these resources and whether this will create disparities in access to quality education among various demographic groups in the state.
Contention
Some points of contention include the effectiveness of tax credits in genuinely enhancing educational quality and the potential for misuse of funds if oversight is insufficient. While supporters advocate for increased educational choice, critics may argue that an overreliance on tax credits could undermine public school funding and lead to unequal educational opportunities. Ensuring appropriate regulations and monitoring mechanisms for the distribution and usage of donations will be critical to the successful implementation of this bill.
Increases the amount of the individual income tax deductions for elementary and secondary school tuition, educational expenses for home-schooled children, and educational expenses for a quality public education (EN -$2,200,000 GF RV See Note)
Creates and provides for a program to provide state funding for the education of students not enrolled in public school and expands the ability of parents to enroll children in the public school of their choice (RR INCREASE GF EX See Note)
Creates and provides for a program to provide state funding for the education of students with exceptionalities not enrolled in public school (RE INCREASE GF EX See Note)
Creates and provides for a program to provide state funding for the education of certain students who have been victims of bullying and are not enrolled in public school (OR INCREASE GF EX See Note)
Creates and provides for a program to provide state funding for the education of students with exceptionalities not enrolled in public school (OR INCREASE GF EX See Note)
Authorizes the University of Louisiana System to establish tuition and fees for a Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (EN +$576,000 SG RV See Note)
Provides relative to initial eligibility requirements for a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students Award for home school students (OR INCREASE GF EX See Note)
Creates the Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship Program to provide educational savings accounts for parental choice in K-12 education. (gov sig) (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)