2023 -- H 5795

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LC001877

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS PROGRAM

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Rea, Chippendale, Place, Newberry, Cardillo, J. Brien,
Casey, Edwards, McNamara, and Cotter

     Date Introduced: February 22, 2023

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by

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adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 7.3

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EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS PROGRAM

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     16-7.3-1. Education savings accounts program established.

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     (a) Upon request to the Rhode Island department of education of any parent, guardian or

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caretaker of any school age child in the state, the general treasurer shall establish, in any form as

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the general treasurer deems appropriate, an education savings account program. The purpose of the

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program shall be to assist and support the parent(s), guardian(s) and caretaker(s) of each student in

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the state with the tuition, materials, tutors, technology and other educational support in order that

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the parent(s), guardian(s), or caretaker(s) of any student with an education savings account shall be

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entitled to utilize, at their sole discretion, any funds in the education savings account established

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for the student for tuition, tutoring, technology, supplies and any other learning support measures

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or materials for any student learning at home or at any other remote-learning site, public school, or

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private school.

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     (b) Each education savings account shall be maintained in a restricted receipt savings

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account and shall be managed by the parent(s), guardian(s), or caretaker(s) of the student.

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     (c) The Rhode Island department of education shall determine the available per pupil cost

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of the student's home school district to the existing students of the school district. Said per pupil

 

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cost shall be set aside by the school district in the restricted receipt savings account established for

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each student of the school district entitled to an education savings account.

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     (d) The parent(s), guardian(s), or caretaker(s) of each student for whom an education

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savings account is established may contribute additional monies to such account.

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     (e) For state income tax purposes, the amount contributed and the annual earnings

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therefrom contributed to an education savings account by a parent, guardian or caretaker shall be

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exempt from the state income tax and shall not be included in the Rhode Island personal income

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tax of the parent(s), guardian(s) or caretaker(s) making the contribution to the education savings

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account.

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     (f) The parent(s), guardian(s), or caretaker(s) of any student with an education savings

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account shall be entitled to utilize, at their sole discretion, any funds in the education savings

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account established for the student for tuition, tutoring, technology, supplies and any other learning

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support measures or materials for any student learning at home or at any other remote-learning site,

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public school, or private school.

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     (g) Once a parent, guardian, or caretaker of a student accesses and utilizes funds from an

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education savings account established pursuant to this chapter to enable their student to attend

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another public school:

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     (1) Their student shall be ineligible to return to their previous, sending public school during

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the remainder of that school year; and

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     (2) The receiving district, if it is a public school district, shall be able to negotiate the tuition

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to be charged for the student to attend school in that receiving district, prior to the student attending

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school in that district.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS PROGRAM

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     This act would require the general treasurer, upon a request to the department of education

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(RIDE) by a parent or guardian, to establish an education savings account to assist and support the

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parents, guardians and caretakers of students in any school district of the state with the tuition,

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materials, tutors, technology and other educational support for any student learning at home or at

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any other remote-learning site. The amounts contributed and interest earned would be exempt from

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the state income tax.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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