Senator Hembree proposes the following amendment (SEDU-62.DB0001S):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 2, by striking Section 59-8-115(A) and inserting:

 (A) The department shall create a standard application process and establish the timeline for parents to establish the eligibility of their student for the Education Scholarship Trust Fund programK-12 education lottery scholarship program. The application window established shall last at least forty-five days, opening no earlier than January fifteenth and closing no later than March fifteenth each calendar year.The department shall begin accepting applications for new program participants no earlier than January fifteenth each year. The department shall extend the opportunity to re-enroll in the program to any existing participant who continues to reside in the State. Re-enrollment may be completed either in conjunction with the regular application cycle or in advance of its opening. The department shall continue to accept applications for the lottery scholarship program on a rolling basis until capacity is met and then shall maintain a waitlist to maximize program participation.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 2, by striking Section 59-8-115(B)(2) and inserting:

  (2) enroll and issue award letters within thirty days of the deadline for receipt of completed applications and all required a priority window must be given first to current participants of this program, for the 2025-2026 school year this means a participant of the Education Scholarship Trust Fund, who continue to reside in the State, followed by a second tiered priority window to siblings of current participants and a third and subsequent tiered priority window shall be open to new program participants that have a household income that does not exceed three hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines;

Amend the bill further, by striking SECTION 16 and inserting:

SECTION 16. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. Current eligible participants may continue receiving benefits under the Education Scholarship Trust Fund, until the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.