HB 1657 — Relating to the establishment of an education savings account program for certain children.

Summary

Relating to the establishment of an education savings account program for certain children.

Bill Text

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends the Texas statutes.

• SUBCHAPTER J. EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT PROGRAM Sec. 29.351. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Account" means an education savings account established under the program. (2) "Child with a disability" means a child who is: (A) eligible to participate in a school district's special education program under Section 29.003; or (B) covered by Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794). (3) "Financial institution" means a bank, credit union, savings bank, or savings and loan association organized under the laws of this state, the laws of another state, or federal law that has its main office or a branch office in this state. The term does not include any institution the deposits of which are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the National Credit Union Administration. (4) "Parent" means a resident of this state who is a natural or adoptive parent, managing or possessory conservator, legal guardian, custodian, or other person with legal authority to act on behalf of a child. (5) "Program" means the education savings account program established under this subchapter. (6) "Program participant" means a child and a parent of a child enrolled in the program. Sec. 29.352. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. The comptroller shall establish and administer an education savings account program to provide funding for certain education-related expenses of eligible children. Sec. 29.353. ELIGIBLE CHILD. (a) A child is eligible to participate in the program if the child: (1) is eligible to attend a public school under Section 25.001; (2) either: (A) attended a public school during the preceding school year; or (B) is entering kindergarten or first grade; and (3) meets one or more of the following criteria: (A) failed to perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument administered under Section 39.023(a) or an end-of-course assessment instrument administered under Section 39.023(c) during the school year preceding the school year for which the child applies to enroll in the program; (B) is a child with a disability; or (C) is educationally disadvantaged. (b) A child who establishes eligibility under this section may participate in the program until the earliest of the following dates: (1) the date on which the child no longer meets the eligibility criteria under Subsection (a)(3); (2) the date on which the child graduates from high school; (3) the date on which the child enrolls in a public school, including an open-enrollment charter school; or (4) the date on which the child is declared ineligible for the program by the comptroller under this subchapter. Sec. 29.354. APPLICATION FOR PROGRAM. (a) A parent of an eligible child may apply on behalf of the child for participation in the program for the following school year. (b) The comptroller shall by rule create an application form for the program and make the form readily available to interested parents through various sources, including the comptroller's Internet website. (c) The comptroller shall provide to each parent who submits an application form a publication that describes the operation of the program, including: (1) expenses allowed under the program under Section 29.356; (2) expense reporting requirements; and (3) a description of the responsibilities of program participants and the duties of the comptroller and the agency under this subchapter. (d) The agency shall: (1) review each application to ensure that the child is eligible to participate in the program; and (2) approve or reject each application. Sec. 29.355. PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAM. (a) To receive funding under the program, a parent of an eligible child must agree to: (1) spend money received through the program only for expenses allowed under Section 29.356; (2) notify the comptroller if the child enrolls in a public school, not later than the 30th day after the date of enrollment; and (3) inform the comptroller if the child graduates from high school. (b) The parent of a child particip

  amended

Action History

1. March 12, 2025

   Referred to Public Education

2. March 12, 2025

   Read first time

3. December 18, 2024

   Filed

Sponsors

• Charles Cunningham · Primary

Subjects