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1 Education Freedom Accounts; Definition; Eligible Student. Amend RSA 194-F:1, VI to read as follows:
VI. "Eligible student" means a resident of this state who is eligible to enroll in a public elementary or secondary school and whose annual household income at the time the student applies for the program is less than or equal to 350 percent of the federal poverty guidelines as updated annually in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services under 42 U.S.C. section 9902(2). No income threshold need be met in subsequent years, provided the student otherwise qualifies. Students in the special school district within the department of corrections established in RSA 194:60 shall not be eligible students.
2 Education Freedom Account; Roll Over of Program Funds. Amend RSA 194-F:2, VII to read as follows:
VII. An EFA shall remain in force, and any unused funds shall roll over from quarter-to-quarter and from year-to-year until the parent withdraws the EFA student from the EFA program or until the EFA student graduates from high school, unless the EFA is closed because of a substantial misuse of funds. Any unused funds shall revert to the education trust fund established in RSA 198:39 and be allocated to fund other EFAs.
3 New Paragraph; Education Freedom Account Program; Department of Education; Reporting. Amend RSA 194-F:2 by inserting after paragraph IX the following new paragraph:
X. The department shall report annually by July 1 to the legislative oversight committee established in RSA 194-F:12, and to the chairpersons of the education committees of the house of representatives and senate, on the number of students in each town with community populations of more than 500 residents that are participating in the EFA program. The legislative budget assistant audit division shall conduct randomized annual EFA income verification auditing of 33 percent of the participating families.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
Text to be added highlighted in green.
1 Education Freedom Accounts; Definition; Eligible Student. Amend RSA 194-F:1, VI to read as follows:
VI. "Eligible student" means a resident of this state who is eligible to enroll in a public elementary or secondary school and whose annual household income at the time the student applies for the program , and for each school year during the student 's participation, matches the state mandated income threshold, is less than or equal to 350 percent of the federal poverty guidelines as updated annually in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services under 42 U.S.C. section 9902(2). Students in the special school district within the department of corrections established in RSA 194:60 shall not be eligible students.
2 Education Freedom Account; Roll Over of Program Funds. Amend RSA 194-F:2, VII to read as follows:
VII. An EFA shall remain in force, and any unused funds shall roll over from quarter-to-quarter until the parent withdraws the EFA student from the EFA program , the student becomes ineligible, or until the EFA student graduates from high school, unless the EFA is closed because of a substantial misuse of funds. Any unused funds shall revert to the education trust fund established in RSA 198:39 .
3 New Paragraph; Education Freedom Account Program; Department of Education; Reporting. Amend RSA 194-F:2 by inserting after paragraph IX the following new paragraph:
X. The department shall report annually by July 1 to the legislative oversight committee established in RSA 194-F:12, and to the chairpersons of the education committees of the house of representatives and senate, on the number of students in each town with community populations of more than 500 residents that are participating in the EFA program. The legislative budget assistant audit division shall conduct randomized annual EFA income verification auditing of 33 percent of the participating families.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.