Senate advances changes to 'Fits All' scholarship program, adds verifications and eligibility clarifications
February 28, 2024 | 2024 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah
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The Utah Senate passed second substitute House Bill 529 (Utah Fits All Scholarship Program) after sponsors described cleanup changes aimed at clarifying eligibility, preventing duplicate benefits and improving oversight.
Senator Cullimore, the sponsor on the floor, said the substitute removes procurement language that was moved to another bill and clarifies that students enrolled in the statewide online education program (SOEP) may not also be eligible for FITSALL payments to prevent double dipping. Cullimore said a FITSALL scholarship recipient could use scholarship funds to enroll in SOEP courses, but could not be enrolled in both programs as a way to receive duplicate funding.
The substitute also added eligible categories (including children of military service members and foster parents in the process of adoption), restricted a parent from being an eligible service provider for their own child, and moved a statutory requirement to analyze cost effectiveness from the State Board of Education to the State Auditor.
For income verification, the bill authorizes the State Tax Commission to provide individual income information to a program manager if the individual provides written consent and the program manager receives the individual's Social Security number. Sponsors described the change as necessary because preferences in the scholarship application are income-based.
Senator Reebie and others asked questions on the meaning of language changes—for example, replacing "transfer" with "engage with" another qualifying provider—and on whether micro-schools and online course providers would be covered. Cullimore said engagement language reflects the variety of scholarship uses where students may not fully transfer to another school but could engage with other providers.
The fiscal note had been a point of interest earlier in the floor sequence; sponsors reported it had "caught up" and indicated the note would likely be the same or smaller than previously estimated. The Senate voted to pass the second substitute HB 529 under suspension of the rules; roll-call results were recorded as 20 yeas, 9 nays, 0 absent.
Next steps: the bill will return to the House for concurrence or further action.
Senator Cullimore, the sponsor on the floor, said the substitute removes procurement language that was moved to another bill and clarifies that students enrolled in the statewide online education program (SOEP) may not also be eligible for FITSALL payments to prevent double dipping. Cullimore said a FITSALL scholarship recipient could use scholarship funds to enroll in SOEP courses, but could not be enrolled in both programs as a way to receive duplicate funding.
The substitute also added eligible categories (including children of military service members and foster parents in the process of adoption), restricted a parent from being an eligible service provider for their own child, and moved a statutory requirement to analyze cost effectiveness from the State Board of Education to the State Auditor.
For income verification, the bill authorizes the State Tax Commission to provide individual income information to a program manager if the individual provides written consent and the program manager receives the individual's Social Security number. Sponsors described the change as necessary because preferences in the scholarship application are income-based.
Senator Reebie and others asked questions on the meaning of language changes—for example, replacing "transfer" with "engage with" another qualifying provider—and on whether micro-schools and online course providers would be covered. Cullimore said engagement language reflects the variety of scholarship uses where students may not fully transfer to another school but could engage with other providers.
The fiscal note had been a point of interest earlier in the floor sequence; sponsors reported it had "caught up" and indicated the note would likely be the same or smaller than previously estimated. The Senate voted to pass the second substitute HB 529 under suspension of the rules; roll-call results were recorded as 20 yeas, 9 nays, 0 absent.
Next steps: the bill will return to the House for concurrence or further action.
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