Senate Bill 2594

AN ACT TO REENACT SECTION 37-181-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH IS THE TITLE SECTION OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 37-181-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-181-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT QUALIFYING EXPENSES MUST HAVE BEEN INCURRED WITHIN THE AWARDED ESA SCHOOL YEAR; TO PROVIDE THAT COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PURCHASED WITH ESA FUNDS SHALL BE DONATED TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL OR LIBRARY ONCE A STUDENT IS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR THE ESA PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT AN ORIGINAL ITEMIZED RECEIPT FOR EXPENSES IS TO BE RETURNED TO THE DEPARTMENT; TO PROVIDE THAT A STUDENT'S REMAINING ESA FUNDS SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE STUDENT'S HOME SCHOOL DISTRICT UPON A STUDENT'S RETURN TO HIS OR HER HOME SCHOOL DISTRICT; TO AMEND SECTION 37-181-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO MAINTAIN THE WAITLIST FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER; TO AMEND SECTION 37-181-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT TO CONTRACT WITH A QUALIFIED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO ADMINISTER THE ESA PROGRAM; TO AMEND SECTION 37-181-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THAT ONLY THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN WHO SUBMITTED THE ESA APPLICATION IS AUTHORIZED TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FOR QUALIFIED EXPENSES; TO AMEND SECTION 37-181-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE PEER'S REVIEW OF THE ESA PROGRAM; TO AMEND SECTION 37-181-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE PARENTS WITH DETAILS OF ITS STUDENTS' RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT AND ITS CAPACITY TO SERVE THE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR IEP; TO REQUIRE ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS TO MANDATE A STUDENT ASSESSMENT; TO REQUIRE ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS TO NOTIFY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN APPLYING FOR THE ESA PROGRAM THAT THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN WAIVES THE RIGHT OF THE PARTICIPATING STUDENT TO AN INDIVIDUAL ENTITLEMENT TO A FREE AND APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION; TO AMEND SECTION 37-181-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO LIMIT THE DEPARTMENT'S REGULATION OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OF A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL, POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTION OR EDUCATIONAL SERVICE PROVIDER TO THE AUTHORITY OF THIS CHAPTER; TO REQUIRE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS TO SUBMIT STUDENT PERFORMANCE DATA TO THE DEPARTMENT AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR; TO REENACT SECTION 37-181-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY RECEIVE AND EXPEND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SOURCE TO FUND ESAS FOR PARTICIPATING STUDENTS; TO REENACT SECTION 37-181-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT ARE SEVERABLE; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 37-181-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CODIFY AND EXTEND THE DATE OF THE AUTOMATIC REPEALER ON SECTIONS 37-181-1 THROUGH 37-181-23; TO AMEND SECTION 12, CHAPTER 441, LAWS OF 2015, TO DELETE THE AUTOMATIC REPEALER FROM WITHIN THE CHAPTER LAWS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the Senate

• Dennis DeBar, Jr.

  Sponsor

• Senate floor amendmentPending

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the Senate Feb 17 – Mar 6

1. Feb 17Referred to the Senate committees on Education and on Appropriations
2. Feb 27Reported as a committee substitute from ED to AP in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass
3. Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass as a committee substitute
4. Mar 6Committee substitute adopted in the Senate
5. Amendment failed in the Senate
6. Passed the Senate

In the House of Representatives Mar 9 – Jun 12

1. Mar 9Sent to the House
2. Mar 25Referred to the House committees on Education and on Appropriations
3. Jun 1Reported from ED to AP in the House: title sufficient, do pass
4. Jun 9Reported from AP to ED in the House: title sufficient, do pass
5. Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass
6. Jun 12Passed the House

To the Governor Jun 12 – Jun 25

1. Jun 12Motion in the House to reconsider entered (Cockerham, Bennett and McCarty)
2. Jun 15Motion in the House to reconsider tabled
3. Returned to the Senate for enrolling
4. Jun 19Enrolled bill signed in the Senate
5. Enrolled bill signed in the House
6. Jun 25Approved by the Governor