HB 2207 -- HCH Scholarship Program Sponsor: Hoskins This bill establishes the HCH Scholarship Program within the Department of Economic Development which authorizes a tax credit beginning January 1, 2009, for taxpayers who contribute to an educational assistance organization if the donations are not claimed on the taxpayer's federal income tax return. The credit will be 50% of the amount of the contribution and is nonrefundable but may be carried forward for three years. The cumulative amount of tax credits cannot exceed $20 million annually, indexed for inflation; and scholarships may not exceed an average of $5,000, indexed for inflation. Eighty percent of the scholarships must go to students from households that have an income no higher than 135% of the level needed to qualify for a reduced price lunch, while the remaining 20% will be divided equally between students in the St. Louis City and Kansas City school districts without regard to parental income. Eligibility criteria for students receiving scholarships include enrollment in any grade from kindergarten to grade six; residence in the St. Louis or Kansas City school district; and eligibility to attend a public school for the semester before a scholarship is granted or starting school in the state for the first time. Home schooled children are also eligible for a scholarship up to the amount of educational expenses, which will not include any payment for the parent's instructional services. Educational assistance organizations must meet requirements for fiscal soundness, percentage of revenues devoted to educational scholarships, and public reporting. Private schools will qualify to accept scholarship students by meeting certain requirements which include employee background checks and administering state student assessments, among others. The bill specifies how scholarship checks will be distributed. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will contract for a study to measure student achievement, satisfaction with the program, and its impact on public and private schools. The provisions of the bill will expire December 31 six years from the effective date.Copyright (c) Missouri House of Representatives