SB 2303 — A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new chapter to title 15.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to an education savings account program.

25.0768.0200025.0768.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota FIRST ENGROSSMENT ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO.

2303 of North Dakota Introduced by Senators Wobbema, Boehm, Cory, Gerhardt Representatives Hauck, Koppelman A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new chapter to title 15.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to an education savings account program.

"Administrator" means an organization registered by the secretary of state to do business in North Dakota and designated by the Bank of North Dakota to implementassist in the implementation of this chapter.

A student who has received a scholarship under the education savings account program until the student graduates high school or reaches twenty-one years of age,age. regardless of household income.

6.

"Parent" means a resident of this state who is a parent, guardian, custodian, or other person with the authority to act on behalf of the child.

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"Participating"Parent" school" means anya privateresident schoolof providingthis educationstate towho elementaryis students,a secondaryparent, students,guardian, custodian, or bothother thatperson haswith notified the administratorauthority of the school's intention to participateact inon thebehalf educationof savings account program and comply with the educationchild. savings account program requirements under this chapter and related administrative rules.

7.

"Participating school" means any nonpublic school providing education to elementary students, secondary students, or both that has notified the administrator of the school's intention to participate in the education savings account program and comply with the education savings account program requirements under this chapter and related administrative rules.

The Bank of North Dakota by July fifteenth of each year shall deposit into aneach education savings account eightysixty percent of the dollar amount under subsection 3 of section 15.1-27-04.1 for the respective year.

A parent of an eligible student qualifies for a state grant to the child's education savings account if the parent signs an agreement with the department promising:

To use education savings account program funds solely for qualified expenses under this chapter;chapter, as identified in subsection 4;

4.

A parent participating in the education savings account program shall use the funds deposited in the eligible student's account for the following qualifying expenses to educate the eligible student;

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A parent participating in the education savings account program shall use the funds deposited in the eligible student's account for the following qualifying expenses to educate the eligible student;

a.

ATextbooks textbookand supplies as required by a participating school;

Payment for purchaseeducational oftherapy curriculum;or services, including occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, physical therapy, speech-language therapy, and audiology therapy from a licensed or certified practitioner or provider, including a licensed or certified paraprofessional or educational aid;

TuitionPayment or fees for apurchase nonpublicof onlinecurriculum; learning program;

FeesTuition for national norm-referenced examinations, advanced placement examinations or similarfees courses,for anda anynonpublic examinationsonline relatedlearning toprogram; college or university admission;

ComputerFees hardware, software, or other technological device that is used solely for anational student'snorm-referenced educationalexaminations, needsadvanced andplacement approvedexaminations by the department or asimilar licensedcourses, physician,and providedany hardwareexaminations purchasedrelated withto educationcollege savingsor accountuniversity fundsadmission; may not be resold within one year of purchase;

ReasonableComputer feeshardware, forsoftware, transportationor paidother totechnological adevice fee-for-servicethat transportationis providerused solely for a student's educational needs and approved by the studentdepartment toor travela tolicensed andphysician, fromprovided anhardware purchased with education servicesavings provider;account funds may not be resold within one year of purchase;

Reasonable fees for transportation paid to a fee-for-service transportation provider for the student to travel to and from an education service provider;

j.

ork. j.

A textbook required for college or university courses.courses;

and l.

Upon graduation, a transfer to a North Dakota education savings plan under section 6-09-38.

AThe participatingadministrator school, private tutor, eligible postsecondary institution, or other education service provider may notadjust refund,the rebate,qualified orexpenses shareidentified ain student'ssubsection grant4, withif anecessary. parent or the student in any manner.

A participating school, private tutor, eligible postsecondary institution, or other education service provider may not refund, rebate, or share a student's grant with a parent or the student in any manner.

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A participating student must be counted in the enrollment figures for the student's school district of residence for the purposes of calculating state aid to the school district of residence.

The funds needed for a grant to an education savings account must be subtracted from the state school aid payable to the student's school district of residence and forwarded to the Bank of North Dakota for deposit in the education savings account.

Twenty percent of the dollar amount under subsection 3 of section 15.1-27-04.1 for the respective year per grant must be paid to the school district of residence.

FundsA notparticipating expendedstudent overmust inform the coursedepartment of athe student's school yeardistrict mayof beresidence carried forward for usethe inpurposes theof followingcalculating schoolstate yearaid for a child who remains in the educationschool savingsdistrict accountof Pageresidence. No.

The department shall forward ten percent of the dollar amount under subsection 3 25.0768.02000of Sixty-ninthsection Legislative15.1-27-04.1 Assemblyfor program.the respective year to the school district of residence for each participating student residing in that school district in addition to any other state aid paid to the school district.