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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (202 2)
HOUSE BILL 3482 By: Martinez
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to education grants; creating the
Digital Wallet Program Act; describing program
purpose; defining terms; directing the Governor or
designee to administer the program; providing for
distribution of grant funding; requiring submissi on
of an annual report of the program; prescribing
contents of report; providing for codification;
providing an effective date; and declaring an
emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-201 of Title 70, unless there
is created a duplication in num bering, reads as follows:
A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Digital
Wallet Program Act".
B. There is hereby created the Digital Wallet Program to
increase learning opportunities for students, establish new
flexibilities for families, em power families to create education
solutions that fit the uniq ue needs of their children , and to
empower and encourage the state to directly support families.
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C. As used in this act:
1. "Federal poverty level " means a measure of annualized incom e
that is published annually in the Federal Regi ster by the United
States Department of Health and Human Services;
2. "Grant" means the amount of money allocated to a parent ;
3. "Grant funding" means the amount of funding in the Digital
Wallet Program that is not allocated for administrative purposes;
4. "Parent" means any person who is the parent or legal
guardian of a child who is entitled to receive a fre e and
appropriate public education according to state statutes; and
5. "Student" means any person who is e ntitled to receive a free
and appropriate public education acc ording to state statutes .
D. The Digital Wallet Program shall be administered by the
Governor, or his or her designee, to provide funds directly to
parents for educational supplies, tutoring, t echnology needs, or
other educational expenses.
E. The Governor, or his or her designee , shall annually
distribute all available grant funding to parents in the Digital
Wallet Program in the following order:
1. On or after July 1 and before August 1 of each year, grants
shall only be distributed to parents whose household income is equal
to or less than one hundred eighty -five percent (185%) of the
federal poverty level;
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2. On or after August 1 and before September 1 of each year,
and if there are availa ble funds, grants shall only be distributed
to parents whose household income is equal t o or less than three
hundred percent (300%) of the federal poverty level;
3. On or after September 1 and before Octob er 1 of each year,
and if there are available fund s, grants shall only be distributed
to parents whose household income is equal to or less than three
hundred fifty percent (350%) of the federal poverty level; and
4. On or after October 1 of each year, and if there are
available funds, grants shall be di stributed to parents of all
income levels until all available funds in the program ar e
distributed.
F. On or by December 31 of each year, the Governor, or his or
her designee, shall submit an annual report on the Digital Wallet
Program to the Preside nt Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate
and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The
contents of the report shall include, but are not limited to, the
following information:
1. The number of grants awarded to parents in each month of the
year;
2. The number of grants awarded to parents by income le vel;
3. The average amount of funds distributed to parents and the
median amount of funds distributed to parents;
4. The number of applicants for grants; and
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5. The amount of funds expended f or the administration of the
program.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2022.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof thi s act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
58-2-9060 EK 12/17/21