Relating to the use of education savings account program money for online or virtual education services.

The text as introduced · 510 words

90R1704 MM-F

By: Perry
S.B. No. 291

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the use of education savings account program money for

online or virtual education services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 29.359, Education Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as

follows:

(a) Subject to Subsections (a-1) and [ Subsection ] (b), a

participating parent may request that program money be spent only

for the following education-related expenses incurred by a

participating child at a preapproved education service provider or

vendor of educational products:

(1) tuition and fees for:

(A) a private school;

(B) a higher education provider;

(C) an online educational course or program; or

(D) a program that provides training for an

industry-based credential approved by the agency;

(2) the purchase of textbooks or other instructional

materials or uniforms required by a private school, higher

education provider, or course in which the child is enrolled,

including purchases made through a third-party vendor of

educational products;

(3) fees for classes or other educational services

provided by a school district or open-enrollment charter school if

the classes or services do not qualify the child to be included in

the school's average daily attendance;

(4) costs related to academic assessments;

(5) fees for services provided by a private tutor or

teaching service;

(6) fees for transportation provided by a

fee-for-service transportation provider for the child to travel to

and from a preapproved education service provider or vendor of

educational products;

(7) fees for educational therapies or services

provided by a practitioner or provider, only for fees that are not

covered by any federal, state, or local government benefits such as

Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or by

any private insurance that the child is enrolled in at the time of

receiving the therapies or services;

(8) costs of computer hardware or software and other

technological devices required by an education service provider or

vendor of educational products or prescribed by a physician to

facilitate a child's education, not to exceed in any year 10 percent

of the total amount transferred to the participating child's

account that year; and

(9) costs of breakfast or lunch provided to a child

during the school day by a private school.

(a-1) Money received under the program may be used for

online or virtual education services provided by a preapproved

education service provider or vendor of educational products to a

participating child only if the child:

(1) is home-schooled;

(2) is a child with a disability; or

(3) has a documented medical condition that prevents

the child from participating in in-person educational services.

SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2027-2028

school year.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2027.