Texas House Bill HB956

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Caption

Relating to the provision by the Texas Education Agency of federal earned income tax credit educational materials to school districts for distribution to students' parents.

Impact

The bill's implementation is expected to bridge the information gap that many low-income families face regarding tax credits. By mandating that school districts disseminate the EITC educational resources, the Bill aims to empower parents with knowledge that may not only help them in tax filing but also enhance their overall financial literacy. The impact on state laws revolves around enhancing educational outreach initiatives through public schools, potentially guiding more families toward utilizing credits that they may have otherwise overlooked.

Summary

House Bill 956 seeks to instruct the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in the provision of educational materials related to the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to school districts. This initiative aims to enhance awareness and understanding of the EITC among students' parents, thereby potentially increasing the number of families who benefit from this federal tax credit. By mandating the TEA to distribute these materials annually, the bill intends to create a more informed citizenry regarding available financial resources, which could have a positive impact on family income levels.

Contention

Although the bill has positive implications for parental education and financial empowerment, there may be concerns over the capacity of school districts to effectively distribute the educational materials. Critics may argue that the added responsibility falls on already burdened educational institutions and that it could detract from their primary educational missions. Additionally, there may be questions surrounding the sufficiency of the provided materials and whether they adequately cover the complexities of tax preparation.

General_note

Finally, the effective date of the bill is noted as September 1, 2009, and its provisions are set to apply starting with the 2009-2010 school year. This timeline highlights the urgency of the legislation in addressing tax education as part of the educational curriculum for public school students and their families.