Wyoming 2025 Regular Session

Wyoming House Bill HB0199 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
2		-	BILL NO. HB0199
3		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 52, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
4		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
5		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
	1	+	2025
	2	+	STATE OF WYOMING
	3	+	25LSO-0240
	4	+	ENGROSSED
	5	+	1HB0199
	6	+	HOUSE BILL NO. HB0199
	7	+	Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act.
	8	+	Sponsored by: Representative(s) Andrew, Angelos, Bear,
	9	+	Brady, Brown, G, Filer, Haroldson, Heiner,
	10	+	Hoeft, Knapp, Lien, Lucas, McCann, Neiman,
	11	+	Ottman, Riggins, Rodriguez-Williams, Singh,
	12	+	Smith, S, Webb, Webber, Wharff and Winter
	13	+	and Senator(s) Biteman, Boner, Brennan,
	14	+	Kolb, Laursen, D, Olsen, Pearson, Scott,
	15	+	Smith, D and Steinmetz
	16	+	A BILL
	17	+	for
	18	+	1 AN ACT relating to education; modifying the education
	19	+	2 savings accounts program; changing the name of the program
	20	+	3 to the Wyoming freedom scholarship act; creating the
	21	+	4 Wyoming freedom scholarship program account; modifying
	22	+	5 distribution of state funds; modifying definitions;
	23	+	6 increasing the maximum scholarship award; modifying
	24	+	7 eligibility requirements; repealing provisions; providing
	25	+	8 appropriations; making conforming amendments; and providing
	26	+	9 for an effective date.
	27	+	10
	28	+	11
	29	+	12 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0240
	30	+	ENGROSSED
	31	+	2HB01991W.S. 9-4-601(a)(ii) is amended to read:
	32	+	2
	33	+	3
	34	+	4
	35	+	5
	36	+	6 (a) All monies received by the state of Wyoming from
	37	+	7 the secretary of the treasury of the United States under
	38	+	8 the provisions of the act of congress of February 25, 1920
	39	+	9 (41 Stat. 437, 450; 30 U.S.C. 181, 191), as amended, or
	40	+	10 from lessees or authorized mine operators and all monies
	41	+	11 received by the state from its sale of production from
	42	+	12 federal mineral leases subject to the act of congress of
	43	+	13 February 25, 1920 (41 Stat. 437, 450; 30 U.S.C. 181, 191)
	44	+	14 as amended, except as provided by subsection (b) of this
	45	+	15 section, shall be deposited into an account and the first
	46	+	16 two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000.00) of revenues
	47	+	17 received in any fiscal year shall be distributed by the
	48	+	18 state treasurer as provided in this subsection. One percent
	49	+	19 (1%) of these revenues shall be credited to the general
	50	+	20 fund as an administrative fee, and the remainder shall be
	51	+	21 distributed as follows:
	52	+	22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0240
	53	+	ENGROSSED
	54	+	3HB01991 (ii) Forty-seven and one-half percent (47.5%),
	55	+	2
	56	+	3 allocations under W.S. 9-4-605 as follows:
	57	+	4
	58	+	5
	59	+	6
	60	+	7; and
	61	+	8
	62	+	9
	63	+	10
	64	+	11
	65	+	12
	66	+	13
	67	+	14W.S. 21-2-901, 21-2-902(a)(vii),
	68	+	15 21-2-903(a), (b), by creating a new subsection (c), by
	69	+	16 amending and renumbering (c) as (d) and by creating a new
	70	+	17 subsection (e), 21-2-904(a)(intro), (b)(i)(J), by creating
	71	+	18 a new subparagraph (Q), (ii) and (e), 21-2-905(e) and
	72	+	19 (f)(intro), 21-2-906(a)(i), (iv), (ix), (xi), (xii), by
	73	+	20 creating a new paragraph (xiii) and by creating new
	74	+	21 subsections (d) and (e) and 21-2-909, as amended by 2024
	75	+	22 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 108, Section 1 and effective
	76	+	23 January 1, 2025, are amended to read: 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0240
	77	+	ENGROSSED
	78	+	4HB01991
	79	+	2 ARTICLE 9
	80	+	3 WYOMING FREEDOM SCHOLARSHIP ACT
	81	+	4
	82	+	5
	83	+	6
	84	+	7 This act shall be known as the "Wyoming
	85	+	8 Act." The program created by
	86	+	9 this act shall be known as the "ESA program."
	87	+	10
	88	+	11
	89	+	12
	90	+	13 (a) As used in this act:
	91	+	14
	92	+	15 (vii) "Qualified school" means
	93	+	16
	94	+	17 school, certified by the state superintendent of public
	95	+	18 instruction pursuant to W.S. 21-2-906(a), located in or
	96	+	19 that provides education services in this state, that may
	97	+	20 include through online means;
	98	+	21
	99	+	22
	100	+	23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0240
	101	+	ENGROSSED
	102	+	5HB01991
	103	+	2 (a) he total amount to be
	104	+	3 deposited in an education savings account for an ESA
	105	+	4 student each year shall be
	106	+	5
	107	+	6
	108	+	7
	109	+	8
	110	+	9
	111	+	10
	112	+	11.
	113	+	12
	114	+	13 (b) Payments to ESAs under this act shall be made by
	115	+	14 the state superintendent of public instruction from the
	116	+	15 Wyoming
	117	+	16 account, which is hereby created. The
	118	+	17 Wyoming
	119	+	18 account shall consist of funds
	120	+	19 transferred to the
	121	+	20 appropriated by the legislature to the
	122	+	21 All earnings from investment of the
	123	+	22 account shall be credited to
	124	+	23 the 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0240
	125	+	ENGROSSED
	126	+	6HB0199
6	127		1
7		-	AN ACT relating to education; modifying the education
8		-	savings accounts program; changing the name of the program
9		-	to the steamboat legacy scholarship act; creating the
10		-	steamboat legacy scholarship program account; modifying
11		-	definitions; increasing the maximum scholarship award;
12		-	modifying eligibility requirements; repealing provisions;
13		-	providing appropriations; making conforming amendments; and
14		-	providing for an effective date.
15		-	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
16		-	Section 1. W.S. 21-2-901, 21-2-903(a), (b), (c) and
17		-	by creating a new subsection (d), 21-2-904(b)(i)(J), by
18		-	creating a new subparagraph (Q), (ii)(A) and (e),
19		-	21-2-905(e) and (f)(intro), 21-2-906(a)(i), (ix), (xi), by
20		-	creating a new paragraph (xiii) and by creating new
21		-	subsections (d) and (e) and 21-2-909, as amended by 2024
22		-	Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 108, Section 1 and effective
23		-	January 1, 2025, are amended to read:
24		-	ARTICLE 9
25		-	STEAMBOAT LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP ACT
26		-	21-2-901. Short title.
27		-	This act shall be known as the "Wyoming Education Savings
28		-	Accounts Act." The program
29		-	created by this act shall be known as the "ESA program."
30		-	21-2-903. Education savings accounts; steamboat
31		-	legacy scholarship program account.
32		-	(a)
33		-	thereafter, the total amount to be deposited in an
34		-	education savings account ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
35		-	BILL NO. HB0199
36		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 52, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
37		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
38		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
	128	+	2 of the
	129	+	3 account at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert but
	130	+	4 shall remain in the
	131	+	5 expended to fund ESAs as provided by this act.
	132	+	6
	133	+	7
	134	+	8
	135	+	9
	136	+	10
	137	+	11
	138	+	12
	139	+	13
	140	+	14
	141	+	15
	142	+	16
	143	+	17 (d) Payments to each approved ESA shall be
	144	+	18 disbursed on a quarterly basis by the state superintendent
	145	+	19
	146	+	20
	147	+	21.
	148	+	22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0240
	149	+	ENGROSSED
	150	+	7HB01991
39	151		2
40		-	shall be
41		-	compared to the federal poverty levels, using the most
42		-	recent federal poverty guidelines for the student's
43		-	household size and income, as follows; six thousand dollars
44		-	($6,000.00) for students as follows:
45		-	(i) For students eligible for an ESA under W.S.
46		-	21-2-904(a)(i), seven thousand dollars ($7,000.00);
47		-	(ii) For students eligible for an ESA under W.S.
48		-	21-2-904(a)(ii),
49		-	hundred fifty percent (150%)
50		-	hundred fifty percent (250%) of the federal poverty level
51		-	using the student's household income compared to the
52		-	federal poverty guidelines for the student's household size
53		-	and income, seven thousand dollars ($7,000.00).
54		-	(b) Payments to ESAs under this act shall be made by
55		-	the state superintendent of public instruction from the
56		-	Wyoming education savings accounts expenditure
57		-	legacy scholarship program account, which is hereby
58		-	created. The
59		-	steamboat legacy scholarship program
60		-	of funds transferred to the
61		-	funds appropriated by the legislature to the
62		-	account. All earnings from investment of the
63		-	steamboat legacy scholarship program account shall be
64		-	credited to the
65		-	unobligated balance of the
66		-	scholarship program
67		-	shall not revert but shall remain in the
68		-	account and shall be expended to fund ESAs as provided by
69		-	this act. ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
70		-	BILL NO. HB0199
71		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 52, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
72		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
73		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
74		-	3(c) Payments to each approved ESA shall be disbursed
75		-	on a quarterly basis by the state superintendent
76		-	state agency or person designated by the state
77		-	superintendent to administer and disburse funds to
78		-	education savings accounts
79		-	(d) The ESA program shall not be funded with county,
80		-	city or school district tax revenues.
81		-	21-2-904. ESA parent agreement; ESA administration.
82		-	(b) To participate in the ESA program, the custodial
83		-	parent of an ESA student shall sign an agreement with the
84		-	state superintendent that:
85		-	(i) Requires use of the ESA funds for the
86		-	following qualifying expenses to educate the ESA student:
87		-	(J) Tuition and fees for summer education
88		-	programs and specialized after school education programs,
89		-	but not including after school childcare programs;
90		-	(Q) Tuition and fees for nongovernmental
91		-	online learning programs.
92		-	(ii) For students eligible for an ESA under
93		-	paragraph (a)(i) of this section:
94		-	(A) Requires that the ESA student receive
95		-	instruction in, at minimum, reading, writing, mathematics,
96		-	civics, including studies of the United States constitution
97		-	and the constitution of the state of Wyoming, history,
98		-	literature and science
99		-	progress. No parent shall be required to include any ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
100		-	BILL NO. HB0199
101		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 52, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
102		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
103		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
	152	+	3
104	153		4
105		-	instruction that conflicts with the parent's or the ESA
106		-	student's religious doctrines;
107		-	(e) An ESA shall remain active and any unused funds
108		-	shall not revert until the parent withdraws the ESA student
109		-	from the ESA program or until the ESA student is no longer
110		-	eligible for the ESA program, unless the ESA is closed
111		-	because of a substantial misuse of funds. When an ESA is
112		-	closed, any unused funds shall revert to the
113		-	education savings accounts expenditure
114		-	scholarship program account.
115		-	21-2-905. Application.
116		-	(e)
117		-	percent (80%) of the ESAs shall be awarded to students
118		-	eligible pursuant to W.S. 21-2-904(a)(i) and the remaining
119		-	twenty percent (20%) shall be awarded to students eligible
120		-	pursuant to W.S. 21-2-904(a)(ii) each year. Any funds
121		-	allocated under this subsection for the award of ESAs to
122		-	students eligible pursuant to W.S. 21-2-904(a)(ii) that are
123		-	not awarded in any school year may be awarded to students
124		-	eligible pursuant to W.S. 21-2-904(a)(i).
125		-	applications for ESAs exceeds the available funds for any
126		-	school year, the students shall be selected on a
127		-	first-come, first-served basis, except preference shall be
128		-	given to the following students:
129		-	(i) An eligible student who received funds under
130		-	the ESA program in the immediately preceding school year;
131		-	or
132		-	(ii) A sibling of an eligible student who: ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
133		-	BILL NO. HB0199
134		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 52, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
135		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
136		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
137		-	5 (A) Receives scholarship funds from an ESA
138		-	at the time the sibling applied for an ESA; or
139		-	(B) Received an ESA in the school year
140		-	immediately preceding the school year in which the sibling
141		-	applies for an ESA.
142		-	(f) For students
143		-	W.S. 21-2-904(a)(i), the following shall apply:
144		-	21-2-906. Duties of the state superintendent.
145		-	(a) The state superintendent of public instruction
146		-	shall:
147		-	(i) Establish a certification process for
148		-	education service providers, which shall, at minimum,
149		-	ensure ESA students attending qualified schools in
150		-	kindergarten through grade twelve (12) receive instruction
151		-	in reading, writing, mathematics, civics,
152		-	of the United States constitution and the constitution of
153		-	the state of Wyoming,
154		-	throughout their kindergarten through grade twelve (12)
155		-	tenure, and for pre-kindergarten ensure ESA students at
156		-	minimum receive instruction necessary for preparation to
157		-	enter kindergarten;
158		-	(ix) Investigate reports of intentional and
159		-	substantial misuse of ESA funds and prohibit an eligible
160		-	ESA student from receipt of ESA funds if the state
161		-	superintendent determines that the ESA student or ESA
162		-	student's parent intentionally and substantially misused
163		-	ESA funds. The state superintendent shall by rule create
164		-	procedures to ensure that a fair process exists to
165		-	determine whether an intentional and substantial misuse of ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
166		-	BILL NO. HB0199
167		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 52, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
168		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
169		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
	154	+	5
	155	+	6 (a) Subject to the availability of funds as
	156	+	7 determined by the legislature, any child who is a Wyoming
	157	+	8 resident, who
	158	+	9
	159	+	10
	160	+	11
	161	+	12, shall be eligible to receive
	162	+	13 an ESA subject to the provisions of this act.
	163	+	14
	164	+	15 (b) To participate in the ESA program, the custodial
	165	+	16 parent of an ESA student shall sign an agreement with the
	166	+	17 state superintendent that:
	167	+	18
	168	+	19 (i) Requires use of the ESA funds for the
	169	+	20 following qualifying expenses to educate the ESA student:
	170	+	21 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0240
	171	+	ENGROSSED
	172	+	8HB01991 (J) Tuition and fees for summer education
	173	+	2 programs and specialized after school education programs,
	174	+	3;
	175	+	4
	176	+	5
170	177		6
171		-	ESA funds has occurred.
172		-	personal misconduct, that student shall be eligible for an
173		-	ESA in the future if placed with a different parent or
174		-	other person with the legal authority to act on behalf of
175		-	the student. The state superintendent shall have the
176		-	authority to refer suspected cases of intentional and
177		-	substantial misuse of ESA funds to the department of audit
178		-	or the attorney general for
179		-	investigation
180		-	of ESA funds is obtained. A parent or ESA student may
181		-	appeal a final decision of the state superintendent to make
182		-	the parent or ESA student ineligible for the ESA program as
183		-	provided by the Wyoming Administrative Procedures Act;
184		-	(xi) Notify parents and ESA students within ten
185		-	(10) business days if the state superintendent prohibits
186		-	rule create procedures to ensure that a fair process exists
187		-	to determine whether an education service provider
188		-	be prohibited from receiving ESA funds under paragraph (x)
189		-	of this subsection. Education service providers may appeal
190		-	a final decision of the state superintendent under this
191		-	paragraph as provided by the Wyoming Administrative
192		-	Procedures Act;
193		-	(xiii) If the state superintendent determines it
194		-	is necessary, withhold from the funds to be deposited in
195		-	ESAs, a maximum of five percent (5%) annually of the funds
196		-	to be deposited in ESAs in the first two (2) school years
197		-	of the ESA program and a maximum of three percent (3%)
198		-	annually of the funds to be deposited in ESAs thereafter to
199		-	pay for the costs of administering the ESA program.
200		-	(d) Rules adopted by the state superintendent under
201		-	subsection (c) of this section shall focus on simplifying
202		-	parental access to the program and encouraging educational ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
203		-	BILL NO. HB0199
204		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 52, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
205		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
206		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
207	178		7
208		-	service providers to provide parents and ESA students with
209		-	a broad array of educational options.
210		-	(e) The state superintendent may accept gifts and
211		-	grants from any source to cover administrative costs of the
212		-	program, to inform the public about the ESA program or to
213		-	fund ESAs.
214		-	21-2-909. Legal proceedings.
215		-	(a) No liability shall arise on the part of the state
216		-	superintendent of public instruction or the state or any
217		-	public school or school district based on the award of or
218		-	use of an ESA pursuant to this act.
219		-	(b) In any legal proceeding challenging the
220		-	application of this act or rule adopted under this act to
221		-	an education service provider, the state bears the burden
222		-	of proof to establish that the law is necessary and does
223		-	not impose any undue burden on the education service
224		-	provider.
225		-	(c) If any part of this act is challenged in a state
226		-	court as violating either the state or federal
227		-	constitutions, parents of eligible students and parents of
228		-	ESA students shall be permitted to intervene in any lawsuit
229		-	for the purposes of defending the ESA program's
230		-	constitutionality.
231		-	(d) If any provision of this act or its application
232		-	to an individual or circumstance is held invalid, the
233		-	invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications
234		-	of this act which can be given effect without the invalid
235		-	provision or application, and to this end the provisions of
236		-	this act are severable. ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
237		-	BILL NO. HB0199
238		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 52, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
239		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
240		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
	179	+	8 (ii) For students eligible for an ESA under
	180	+	9
	181	+	10
	182	+	11 Requires that the ESA student receive
	183	+	12 instruction in, at minimum, reading, writing, mathematics,
	184	+	13 civics, including studies of the United States constitution
	185	+	14 and the constitution of the state of Wyoming, history,
	186	+	15 literature and science
	187	+	16. No parent shall be required to include any
	188	+	17 instruction that conflicts with the parent's or the ESA
	189	+	18 student's religious doctrines;
	190	+	19
	191	+	20 (B) Requires that the ESA student take the
	192	+	21
	193	+	22
	194	+	23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0240
	195	+	ENGROSSED
	196	+	9HB01991(iii) Certifies that the ESA student is not,
	197	+	2 or will not be, enrolled in a public school district upon
	198	+	3 receipt of the ESA and releases the applicable school
	199	+	4 district from all obligations to educate the ESA student.
	200	+	5 This subparagraph paragraph shall not:
	201	+	6
	202	+	7(A) Require an eligible student to
	203	+	8 withdraw from a public school district before applying for
	204	+	9 or receiving an ESA if the student withdraws from the
	205	+	10 public school district before receiving or expending any
	206	+	11 monies in the student's ESA;
	207	+	12
	208	+	13 Prevent a qualified student from
	209	+	14 applying in advance for an ESA student to be funded
	210	+	15 beginning the following school year; or
	211	+	16
	212	+	17(C) Prevent a public school district
	213	+	18 from charging an ESA for any services provided to the
	214	+	19 qualified student to the extent authorized by law.
	215	+	20
	216	+	21 (e) An ESA shall remain active and any unused funds
	217	+	22 shall not revert until the parent withdraws the ESA student
	218	+	23 from the ESA program or until the ESA student is no longer 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0240
	219	+	ENGROSSED
	220	+	10HB0199
	221	+	1 eligible for the ESA program, unless the ESA is closed
	222	+	2 because of a substantial misuse of funds. When an ESA is
	223	+	3 closed, any unused funds shall revert to the Wyoming
	224	+	4
	225	+	5 account.
	226	+	6
	227	+	7.
241	228		8
242		-	Section 2. 2024 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 108,
243		-	Section 3 and Section 6(c) is repealed.
244		-	Section 3. There is appropriated thirty million
245		-	dollars ($30,000,000.00) from the general fund to the
246		-	steamboat legacy scholarship program account created by
247		-	section 1 of this act for the purposes of the Steamboat
248		-	Legacy Scholarship Act. It is the intent of the legislature
249		-	that this appropriation be included in the standard budget
250		-	of the Wyoming department of education for the immediately
251		-	succeeding fiscal biennium. ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
252		-	BILL NO. HB0199
253		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 52, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
254		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
255		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
256		-	9Section 4. This act is effective immediately upon
257		-	completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law
258		-	as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming
259		-	Constitution.
260		-	(END)
261		-	Speaker of the HousePresident of the SenateGovernorTIME APPROVED: _________DATE APPROVED: _________
262		-	I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.
263		-	Chief Clerk
	229	+	9 (e)
	230	+	10
	231	+	11
	232	+	12
	233	+	13
	234	+	14
	235	+	15
	236	+	16
	237	+	17
	238	+	18 applications for ESAs exceeds the available funds for any
	239	+	19 school year, the students shall be selected on a
	240	+	20 first-come, first-served basis, except preference shall be
	241	+	21 given to the following students:
	242	+	22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0240
	243	+	ENGROSSED
	244	+	11HB01991n eligible student who received funds under
	245	+	2 the ESA program in the immediately preceding school year.
	246	+	3
	247	+	4
	248	+	5
	249	+	6
	250	+	7
	251	+	8
	252	+	9
	253	+	10
	254	+	11
	255	+	12
	256	+	13
	257	+	14 (f) For students ,
	258	+	15the following shall apply:
	259	+	16
	260	+	17
	261	+	18
	262	+	19 (a) The state superintendent of public instruction
	263	+	20 shall:
	264	+	21
	265	+	22 (i) Establish a certification process for
	266	+	23 education service providers, which shall, at minimum, 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0240
	267	+	ENGROSSED
	268	+	12HB0199
	269	+	1 ensure ESA students attending qualified schools in
	270	+	2 kindergarten through grade twelve (12) receive instruction
	271	+	3 in reading, writing, mathematics, civics, including studies
	272	+	4 of the United States constitution and the constitution of
	273	+	5 the state of Wyoming, history, literature and science;
	274	+	6
	275	+	7
	276	+	8
	277	+	9
	278	+	10 (iv) For students eligible for an ESA under W.S.
	279	+	11nsure that parents of ESA students with
	280	+	12 disabilities receive notice that participation in the ESA
	281	+	13 program is a parental placement under 20 U.S.C. § 1412,
	282	+	14 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), along
	283	+	15 with an explanation of the rights that parentally placed
	284	+	16 students possess under IDEA and any applicable state laws
	285	+	17 and regulations;
	286	+	18
	287	+	19 (ix) Investigate reports of intentional and
	288	+	20 substantial misuse of ESA funds and prohibit an eligible
	289	+	21 ESA student from receipt of ESA funds if the state
	290	+	22 superintendent determines that the ESA student or ESA
	291	+	23 student's parent intentionally and substantially misused 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0240
	292	+	ENGROSSED
	293	+	13HB0199
	294	+	1 ESA funds. The state superintendent shall by rule create
	295	+	2 procedures to ensure that a fair process exists to
	296	+	3 determine whether an intentional and substantial misuse of
	297	+	4 ESA funds has occurred.
	298	+	5
	299	+	6
	300	+	7
	301	+	8 The state superintendent shall have the
	302	+	9 authority to refer suspected cases of intentional and
	303	+	10 substantial misuse of ESA funds to the department of audit
	304	+	11 or the attorney general for
	305	+	12 investigation if evidence of fraudulent use
	306	+	13 of ESA funds is obtained. A parent or ESA student may
	307	+	14
	308	+	15
	309	+	16;
	310	+	17
	311	+	18 (xi) Notify parents and ESA students within ten
	312	+	19
	313	+	20
	314	+	21 an education service provider
	315	+	22 from receiving ESA funds under paragraph (x)
	316	+	23 of this subsection. Education service providers may appeal 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0240
	317	+	ENGROSSED
	318	+	14HB0199
	319	+	1
	320	+	2
	321	+	3
	322	+	4
	323	+	5 (xii) For students eligible for an ESA under
	324	+	6nsure ESA students, who choose to,
	325	+	7 participate in the statewide assessments administered
	326	+	8 pursuant to W.S. 21-2-304(a) and compile the assessment
	327	+	9 results to analyze student proficiency and academic
	328	+	10 progress among the students participating in the ESA
	329	+	11 program, including an analysis of graduation rates,
	330	+	12 proficiency and progress based on grade level. The results
	331	+	13 of the analysis under this paragraph shall be included in
	332	+	14 the annual report required pursuant to W.S. 21-2-204(k);.
	333	+	15
	334	+	16
	335	+	17
	336	+	18
	337	+	19
	338	+	20
	339	+	21
	340	+	22
	341	+	23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0240
	342	+	ENGROSSED
	343	+	15HB01991
	344	+	2
	345	+	3
	346	+	4
	347	+	5
	348	+	6
	349	+	7
	350	+	8
	351	+	9
	352	+	10
	353	+	11
	354	+	12
	355	+	13
	356	+	14 No liability shall arise on the part of the state
	357	+	15 superintendent of public instruction or the state or any
	358	+	16 public school or school district based on the award of or
	359	+	17 use of an ESA pursuant to this act.
	360	+	18
	361	+	19
	362	+	20
	363	+	21
	364	+	22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0240
	365	+	ENGROSSED
	366	+	16HB0199
	367	+	1
	368	+	2
	369	+	3
	370	+	4
	371	+	5
	372	+	6
	373	+	7
	374	+	8
	375	+	9
	376	+	10
	377	+	11
	378	+	12
	379	+	13
	380	+	14
	381	+	15
	382	+	16
	383	+	17
	384	+	18
	385	+	19
	386	+	20
	387	+	21W.S. 21-2-902(a)(vi) and 21-2-904(a)(i),
	388	+	22 (ii) and (b)(ii)(B) are repealed.
	389	+	23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0240
	390	+	ENGROSSED
	391	+	17HB019912024 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 108,
	392	+	2 Section 3 and Section 6(c) is repealed.
	393	+	3
	394	+	4. There is appropriated thirty million
	395	+	5 dollars ($30,000,000.00) from the general fund to the
	396	+	6 Wyoming freedom scholarship program account created by
	397	+	7 section 2 of this act for the purposes of the Wyoming
	398	+	8 Freedom Scholarship Act.
	399	+	9
	400	+	10. This act is effective immediately upon
	401	+	11 completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law
	402	+	12 as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming
	403	+	13 Constitution.
	404	+	14
	405	+	15 (END)