HB4945 SFAT Rucker #1 3-7

Osgood  7820

Senator Rucker moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:

Eng. House Bill 4945— A BILL to amend and reenact §18-8-12 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §18‑9A-25 of said code; to amend and reenact §18‑31‑2, §18‑31‑3, §18-31-4, §18‑31‑5, §18‑31‑6, §18‑31‑7, §18‑31‑8, §18‑31‑10, and §18‑31‑11 of said code; and to amend said code by adding thereto two new sections, designated §18‑31‑2a and §18-31-14, all relating generally to the Hope Scholarship Program; providing that microschools, learning pods, and individualized instructional programs have the authority to issue secondary school diplomas; providing that the annual Hope Scholarship Program appropriation calculation will be based on the estimated number of participating students instead of the number of participating students in the prior year; defining terms; providing that Hope Scholarship students have certain educational privileges made available to other nonpublic school students; permitting the State Treasurer to appear by designee at Hope Scholarship Board meetings; modifying qualifications for certain Board members for future appointments; clarifying that the Hope Scholarship Board may take issues involving Hope Scholarship students in charter schools to the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board; authorizing the Hope Scholarship Board to request certain information from county superintendents and county boards of education; clarifying that Hope Scholarship funds may only be utilized for expenses incurred in a kindergarten through secondary school education; requiring a year-round application and awards process; requiring parental agreement to include provisions requiring parents to notify the board if a student reenrolls in public school or graduates from a secondary school program; clarifying that all records and personally identifying information of a Hope Scholarship student, applicant, or parent is confidential and not subject to disclosure pursuant to the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act; clarifying that a kindergarten-level applicant's Hope Scholarship participation does not commence if the student does not begin kindergarten-level education that school year; clarifying that a public charter school may invoice a Hope Scholarship student for educational services; modifying qualifying expenses for Hope Scholarship accounts; authorizing the Board to adopt rules and procedures regarding Hope Scholarship student receipt of services from a public school or school district;  requiring the Board to promulgate legislative rules permitting certain providers to compensate employees who are parents of Hope Scholarship students; authorizing the Board to adopt certain reimbursement procedures; clarifying annual renewal process for Hope Scholarship parents and students; modifying annual academic assessment requirements for certain grade levels; authorizing the Board to propose legislative rules related to audit of education service providers; requiring education service providers conducting background screenings of employees and other persons in contact with students to certify screening results to the board; clarifying that providers may not assess increased or additional fees against Hope Scholarship students based on participation in the program; and adding reporting requirements.

Adopted

Rejected