MISSOURI EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS PROGRAM

(Sections 135.713, 135.714, 135.715, and 166.700)

This act modifies provisions relating to the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program.

The act provides that all tax credits authorized under the program shall be refundable.

The act changes the maximum amount of tax credits that may be allocated in any year from $50 million to $75 million. Such maximum amount shall be increased annually by any percentage increase in the amount appropriated for student transportation over 90% of the projected amount necessary to fully fund transportation aid funding under current law. The act repeals a provision that the program shall be effective in any fiscal year immediately following any year in which the amount appropriated for pupil transportation equals or exceeds 40% of the projected amount necessary to fully fund transportation aid funding for fiscal year 2021.

The act modifies the total grant amount for students with an individualized education plan (IEP) or limited English proficiency or who receive free or reduced-price lunch. Students with limited English proficiency shall receive no more than 160% of the state adequacy target; students who receive free or reduced-price lunch shall receive no more than 125% of the state adequacy target; and students with an IEP shall receive no more than 175% of the state adequacy target. All other students shall receive a grant amount that does not exceed the state adequacy target.

Under the act, no parent of a student who attends a home school shall be required to undergo a background check in order to participate in the program.

The act repeals a provision that the annual increase to the cumulative amount of tax credits shall cease when the amount of tax credits reaches $50 million.

If the total contributions to educational assistance organizations exceed $25 million in any school year, the State Treasurer may certify one additional educational assistance organization to administer scholarship accounts. A maximum of seven, rather than six, educational assistance organizations may have their principal place of business in any one of the counties listed in the act.

Finally, the act modifies the definition of "qualified student" by including any student who is a resident of this state, rather than only those students who live in a charter county or a city with at least 30,000 inhabitants. Such definition is further modified by including any student who is a member of a household whose total annual income is 400% or less than the income standard used to qualify for free and reduced-price lunch, rather than only those students whose household income is 200% or less than such standard.

These provisions are identical to provisions in SB 1392 (2024) and similar to provisions in SS#2/SCS/SB 727 (2024), HB 1738 (2024), HB 2104 (2024), SCS/SB 360 (2023), and provisions in HCS/HB 350 (2023).

CHARTER SCHOOLS

(Section 160.400)

This act adds all school districts located in Boone County, St. Charles County, and St. Louis County to the list of school districts in which a charter school may be operated by any entity currently authorized to operate a charter school under state law.

This provision is identical to a provision in SB 1392 (2024) and similar to a provision in SS#2/SCS/SB 727 (2024), SB 920 (2024), a provision in SB 1006 (2024), HB 1485 (2024), HB 1764 (2024), and a provision in SS/SB 304 (2023).

OLIVIA SHANNON