Education (Student Financial Aid)

SB 54 amends Utah's Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship Program to make it more accessible. It removes income-based eligibility requirements (affecting low-income families) and eliminates eligibility for siblings. The bill aligns the program with Utah's Fits All Scholarship Program by allowing scholarship organizations to approve private schools and providers, requiring physical education and extracurricular caps, and adding primary residency verification. These changes streamline administration and clarify eligibility without appropriating new funds.

HB 109 modifies Utah's Fits All Scholarship Program to prevent grade repetition for students using scholarship funds. It updates program rules in Utah Code sections 53F-6-402, 403, and 405 without adding new funding. The bill affects families using scholarships for private or home-based education, maintaining annual limits ($8,000 for private schools, $4,000-$6,000 for home-based students). Key changes include adjusting how unused scholarship funds are redistributed when students exit mid-year and clarifying accountability requirements for continued eligibility. The bill does not alter scholarship amounts or eligibility criteria but refines program administration.