House widens scope of Carson Smith eligibility

More students with disabilities in private schools would be eligible for Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarships under a bill that passed the House Thursday.

HB351, sponsored by Rep. Merlynn Newbold, R-South Jordan, would amend Utah's premier private school voucher law regarding which private schools are eligible to accept vouchers. The bill was amended to allow schools that have previously served students with disabilities to participate.

The bill also requires parents of students with disabilities receive written notification alerting them to the voucher program. It also allows private schools to demonstrate fiscal soundness through a method less rigorous than an audit but still OK'd through a certified public accountant.

The current law has a tighter grip on which schools might participate, and its language has resulted in battles of interpretation between voucher advocates and the State Board of Education.

The House approved the bill 66-to-5. It goes to the Senate for debate.