Signed by Governor Rick Scott

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program for private schools.

Highlights:

• Limits tax credits for donations to private schools to no more than $229 million for the 2012-2013 fiscal year (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the maximum amount for tax credits of $229 million will remain effective for subsequent years, unless the tax credit amount reached in a previous year was 90 percent or greater of the previously defined maximum amount (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a student to apply for a tax credit scholarship to private school if the student meets 1 or more of the following requirements (Sec. 1):
• The student is currently in foster care or was placed in foster care within the past year;
• The student is applying for the scholarship for the first time and is a sibling of, and resides with, a current scholarship recipient; or
• The student is eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches under the National School Lunch Act and:
• Was a full-time student during the previous fiscal year;
• Received a scholarship from an eligible non-profit scholarship funding organization or from the State of Florida in the previous school year; or
• Is eligible to enter kindergarten or first grade.

• Authorizes students to continue in the scholarship program provided that their household income level does not exceed 230 percent of the federal poverty level (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Education to make materials for state standardized testing available to private schools upon request and free of charge (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program for private schools.

Highlights:

• Limits tax credits for donations to private schools to no more than $229 million for the 2012-2013 fiscal year (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the maximum amount for tax credits of $229 million will remain effective for subsequent years, unless the tax credit amount reached in a previous year was 90 percent or greater of the previously defined maximum amount (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a student to apply for a tax credit scholarship to private school if the student meets 1 or more of the following requirements (Sec. 1):
• The student is currently in foster care or was placed in foster care within the past year;
• The student is applying for the scholarship for the first time and is a sibling of, and resides with, a current scholarship recipient; or
• The student is eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches under the National School Lunch Act and:
• Was a full-time student during the previous fiscal year;
• Received a scholarship from an eligible non-profit scholarship funding organization or from the State of Florida in the previous school year; or
• Is eligible to enter kindergarten or first grade.

• Authorizes students to continue in the scholarship program provided that their household income level does not exceed 230 percent of the federal poverty level (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Education to make materials for state standardized testing available to private schools upon request and free of charge (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text