2023 -- H 5795
========
LC001877
========
S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS PRO GRAM
Introduced By: Representatives Rea, Chippendale, Place, Newberry, Cardillo, J. Brien,
Casey, Edwards, McNamara, and Cotter
Date Introduced: February 22, 2023
Referred To: House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by 1
adding thereto the following chapter: 2
CHAPTER 7.3 3
EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS PROGRAM 4
16-7.3-1. Education savings accounts program established. 5
(a) Upon request to the Rhode Island department of education of any parent, guardian or 6
caretaker of any school age child in the state, the general treasurer shall establish, in any form as 7
the general treasurer deems appropriate, an education savings account program. The purpose of the 8
program shall be to assist and support the parent(s), guardian(s) and caretaker(s) of each student in 9
the state with the tuition, materials, tutors, technology and other educational support in order that 10
the parent(s), guardian(s), or caretaker(s) of any student with an education savings account shall be 11
entitled to utilize, at their sole discretion, any funds in the education savings account established 12
for the student for tuition, tutoring, technology, supplies and any other learning support measures 13
or materials for any student learning at home or at any other remote-learning site, public school, or 14
private school. 15
(b) Each education savings account shall be maintained in a restricted receipt savings 16
account and shall be managed by the parent(s), guardian(s), or caretaker(s) of the student. 17
(c) The Rhode Island department of education shall determine the available per pupil cost 18
of the student's home school district to the existing students of the school district. Said per pupil 19
LC001877 - Page 2 of 3
cost shall be set aside by the school district in the restricted receipt savings account established for 1
each student of the school district entitled to an education savings account. 2
(d) The parent(s), guardian(s), or caretaker(s) of each student for whom an education 3
savings account is established may contribute additional monies to such account. 4
(e) For state income tax purposes, the amount contributed and the annual earnings 5
therefrom contributed to an education savings account by a parent, guardian or caretaker shall be 6
exempt from the state income tax and shall not be included in the Rhode Island personal income 7
tax of the parent(s), guardian(s) or caretaker(s) making the contribution to the education savings 8
account. 9
(f) The parent(s), guardian(s), or caretaker(s) of any student with an education savings 10
account shall be entitled to utilize, at their sole discretion, any funds in the education savings 11
account established for the student for tuition, tutoring, technology, supplies and any other learning 12
support measures or materials for any student learning at home or at any other remote-learning site, 13
public school, or private school. 14
(g) Once a parent, guardian, or caretaker of a student accesses and utilizes funds from an 15
education savings account established pursuant to this chapter to enable their student to attend 16
another public school: 17
(1) Their student shall be ineligible to return to their previous, sending public school during 18
the remainder of that school year; and 19
(2) The receiving district, if it is a public school district, shall be able to negotiate the tuition 20
to be charged for the student to attend school in that receiving district, prior to the student attending 21
school in that district. 22
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 23
========
LC001877
========
LC001877 - Page 3 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS PROGRAM
***
This act would require the general treasurer, upon a request to the department of education 1
(RIDE) by a parent or guardian, to establish an education savings account to assist and support the 2
parents, guardians and caretakers of students in any school district of the state with the tuition, 3
materials, tutors, technology and other educational support for any student learning at home or at 4
any other remote-learning site. The amounts contributed and interest earned would be exempt from 5
the state income tax. 6
This act would take effect upon passage. 7
========
LC001877
========