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Committee expands parental‑choice tax credit to cover supplemental services for private‑school students
Summary
The committee approved SB 6‑83 as amended to let families using the parental‑choice tax credit apply leftover credit toward services such as individual tutoring and instructional materials for private‑school and homeschool students; supporters cited existing audit controls, while opponents warned broad language risks fraud and concentrates benefits among higher‑income families.
The Senate Taxation Committee voted to advance SB 6‑83 as amended, expanding the parental‑choice tax credit so families who do not use the full credit for tuition can apply remaining credit toward specified supplemental educational services for students enrolled in private schools (and those using homeschool credits).
Senator Daniels, the floor leader and author, said the change "expands the services available to those who access the parental choice tax credit" and emphasized that the language mirrors services already listed for homeschool credits. An amendment debated and adopted inserted the words "public or" in one line of the substitute before settling on language that the sponsor said limits the expansion to families accessing private‑school tuition credits.
Committee members pressed for details. Senator Sakieri asked whether individual tutoring and "supplemental materials" would be eligible and how the program would prevent misuse; Daniels replied that receipts would be required and that "the commission shall have authority to conduct audit or contract for auditing the receipts for qualified expenses." Senators raising objections warned that broad terms could be exploited: "I feel like we learned ... that having broad language when it comes to educational benefits leaves us open to potential fraud, waste, and abuse," Senator Kirk said.
Supporters said the intent is not to enlarge maximum credit amounts per family but to allow unused portions to fund instructional services. The committee recorded 8 ayes, 3 nays and 1 constitutional privilege and declared SB 6‑83 passed as amended. Sponsors said they will follow up on rulemaking and possible future bills to address caps or usage rates.
