AB968: Bill Text

LRB-3903/1

TKK:emw/klm/kjf

2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE

2017 Assembly BILL 968

February 20, 2018 - Introduced by Representative Sinicki, cosponsored by Senator Larson. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB968,1,5 An Act to amend 115.7915 (2) (intro.), 118.60 (2) (a) (intro.) and 119.23 (2) (a) (intro.); and to create 115.7915 (9m), 115.7915 (11), 118.60 (2) (at), 118.60 (12), 119.23 (2) (at) and 119.23 (12) of the statutes; relating to: attendance at a private school under a parental choice program and phasing out parental choice programs.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill prohibits a pupil who has attended a private school under the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, the Racine Parental Choice Program, or the statewide parental choice program (parental choice program) or the Special Needs Scholarship Program and who has completed the highest grade level at that private school from attending any other private school under a parental choice program or the SNSP.

Also under this bill, beginning in the 2020-21 school year, no private school may participate in a parental choice program unless the school was participating in the program in the 2019-20 school year. Also under the bill, no pupil may attend a private school under a parental choice program unless the pupil was attending that private school under the program in the 2019-20 school year.

Finally, under this bill, beginning in the 2020-21 school year, no private school may accept pupils under the SNSP unless the school was participating in the program in the 2019-20 school year, and no pupil may attend a private school under the SNSP unless the pupil was attending that private school under the program in the 2019-20 school year. Under current law, a child with a disability who meets certain eligibility criteria may receive a scholarship to attend a private school participating in the SNSP.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB968,1 Section 1. 115.7915 (2) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, is amended to read:

AB968,2,6 115.7915 (2) Scholarship requirements. (intro.) Beginning in the 2016-17 school year, the department shall, subject to subs. (9m) and (11), provide to a child with a disability a scholarship under sub. (4m) (a) to attend an eligible school if all of the following apply:

AB968,2 Section 2. 115.7915 (9m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB968,2,12 115.7915 (9m) Prohibition. A child with a disability who has received a scholarship under this section to attend a private school and who has completed the highest grade level offered at the private school may not receive a scholarship to attend any other private school under this section and may not attend a private school under any of the programs under ss. 118.60 and 119.23.

AB968,3 Section 3. 115.7915 (11) of the statutes is created to read:

AB968,2,17 115.7915 (11) Sunset. (a) Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, a child with a disability may not receive a scholarship under this section to attend a private school unless the child attended that private school under a scholarship under this section in the 2019-20 school year.

AB968,3,3 (b) Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, a private school may not participate in the program under this section unless the private school was participating in the program under this section in the 2019-20 school year.

AB968,4 Section 4. 118.60 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,3,10 118.60 (2) (a) (intro.) Subject to pars. (ag) and, (ar), and (at) and sub. (12), any pupil in grades kindergarten to 12 who resides within an eligible school district may attend any private school under this section and, subject to pars. (ag), (ar), (at), (be), (bm), and (bs) and sub. (12), any pupil in grades kindergarten to 12 who resides in a school district, other than an eligible school district or a 1st class city school district, may attend any private school under this section if all of the following apply:

AB968,5 Section 5. 118.60 (2) (at) of the statutes is created to read:

AB968,3,16 118.60 (2) (at) A pupil who has attended a private school under either of the programs under this section and has completed the highest grade level offered at the private school may not attend any other private school under either of the programs under this section or under the program under s. 119.23 and may not receive a scholarship under s. 115.7915 to attend a private school.

AB968,6 Section 6. 118.60 (12) of the statutes is created to read:

AB968,3,20 118.60 (12) (a) Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, a pupil may not attend a participating private school under this section unless the pupil attended that participating private school under this section in the 2019-20 school year.

AB968,3,23 (b) Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, a private school may not participate in the program under this section unless the private school was participating in the program under this section in the 2019-20 school year.

AB968,7 Section 7. 119.23 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,4,3 119.23 (2) (a) (intro.) Subject to pars. (ag) and, (ar), and (at) and sub. (12), any pupil in grades kindergarten to 12 who resides within the city may attend any private school if all of the following apply:

AB968,8 Section 8. 119.23 (2) (at) of the statutes is created to read:

AB968,4,9 119.23 (2) (at) A pupil who has attended a private school under the program under this section and has completed the highest grade level offered at the private school may not attend any other private school under the program under this section or under either of the programs under s. 118.60 and may not receive a scholarship under s. 115.7915 to attend a private school.

AB968,9 Section 9. 119.23 (12) of the statutes is created to read:

AB968,4,13 119.23 (12) (a) Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, a pupil may not attend a participating private school under this section unless the pupil attended that participating private school under this section in the 2019-20 school year.

AB968,4,16 (b) Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, a private school may not participate in the program under this section unless the private school was participating in the program under this section in the 2019-20 school year.

AB968,4,17 (End)