HB452 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Charlotte Meadows

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Education, education savings accounts, Parent's Choice Program created, membership and duties provided, process for awarding education savings accounts, requirements for education service providers

Summary

HB452 would create the Parent's Choice Program in Alabama, giving eligible students education savings accounts to pay for approved education expenses with a new governing board, funding, and oversight.

What This Bill Does

It establishes the Parent's Choice Program and the Parent's Choice Board to administer education savings accounts (ESAs). It sets up a state treasury fund to deposit annual ESA funds, with deposits made in two installments each year and carryover allowed. It defines eligible recipients, participating schools, and qualified expenses, and it outlines renewal rules and conditions that could close an ESA if not met. It requires audits of accounts and providers and assigns certain responsibilities to resident school districts.

Who It Affects

• Eligible students and their parents: may apply to receive an education savings account, use funds for defined educational expenses, must renew annually, and must meet eligibility and attendance requirements.
• Participating schools and education service providers and resident school districts: may participate and receive payments through ESAs, must provide receipts and reports, are subject to audits and potential suspensions, and districts must share student records and coordinate services.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Parent's Choice Act and the Parent's Choice Program with defined terms (board, ESA, participating school, education service provider, eligible recipient, etc.).
• Forms the Parent's Choice Board (including Treasurer, Finance Director, Auditor, Disabilities Advocacy rep, and four parent members) and an advisory committee; sets meeting, openness, and staffing rules.
• Creates the Parent's Choice Program Trust Fund and a separate Parent's Choice Program Expense Fund; defines annual ESA funding equal to 100% of the Education Trust Fund share of the prior year's Foundation Program Fund, with 4% cap for administrative expenses.
• Implements a phased eligibility expansion starting in 2023-2024, expanding participation by income level and grade eligibility each subsequent school year through 2026-2027.
• Defines eligible expenses for ESAs (tuition, tutoring, standardized tests, online programs, vocational training, extracurriculars, computer hardware, assistive technology, college fees, etc.).
• Requires annual auditing of ESAs and education service providers; allows removal or suspension for non-compliance or misuse; provides due process and appeals.
• Requires participating schools and providers to meet background checks, receipts, anti-discrimination, and enrollment notice requirements; allows contracts and payments via electronic transfers; limits state regulation beyond necessary program enforcement.
• Gives resident school districts responsibilities for sharing records and may allow nonresident attendance with reasonable fees; ensures compliance with state and federal laws and preserves church school exemptions where applicable.
• Allows refunds or adjustments to ESAs only as specified, and ensures funds are not taxable income to families; outlines procedures for renewal, closure, and potential refunds to the state if not renewed.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education