HB93 Signed into Law
Despite the fact that Governor Brad Little received 37,000 constituent requests to veto House Bill 93 and only 5,000 requests that he approve the bill, he signed it into law last week.
District 9 Senator Brandon Shippy was the only legislator in either district 9, which includes both Cambridge and Midvale, and district 7, which includes Council and New Meadows, to vote against the bill.
When contacted, Senator Shippy stated that he thinks the bill will eventually harm the rural schools in the upper country. “The money to pass this bill came from outside the State of Idaho-from online schools and private schools that would like students in Idaho to use their educational services,” he said.
He added that while this year, the $50 million will be covered by the general fund, next year that could change-the number could be much higher than $50 million and may be taken from money that would otherwise go to local schools.
He said the passage of the bill subsidizes people who can already afford to pay for their children’s private education. He added that he believes the bill to be unconstitutional.
In contrast, Senator Cindy Carlson in District 7 voted for the bill. She said, “I supported HB 93 because it will give parents whose needs are not being met by the current public school system the opportunity to educate their children according to what they believe would be best. If they believe public schools are a good fit, HB 93 doesn’t affect that decision, but if they are looking for different options such as homeschooling, online learning, or private schools, this will help assist them. It does not take money away from Public Schools. It will be a tax credit from the State’s General Fund.”
Shippy said that homeschoolers did not support the bill.
District 7 Representative Charlie Shepherd voted in favor of the bill. He worked in Riggins for the Salmon River School District for 20 years before becoming a legislator. His wife, son, and three sisters all work in public education.
“I view this bill as an experiment. If it doesn’t work or if money in the future would take away from public education funds, we can rescind it next year,” he said. He added that school funding had risen by 64% this past year (most of that funding went to teacher salaries) and said the legislature is working on getting more funding for smaller schools.
He said that HB 93 is not a voucher system. Parents who wish to use alternative education can receive up to $5,000 for each child, which is taken from their income tax. They can use that money to pay for private schools, online learning, textbooks, transportation to and from school, and tutoring.
Parents whose children are between the ages of five and twenty-one and who are disabled can receive up to $7,500 in tax credits.
Parents who earn up to 300% of the federal poverty level can apply for those credits, but they cannot pay themselves for teaching their own children.
When contacted, Cambridge School District Superintendent Anthony Butler said he opposed passage of the bill.
“I am all for school choice. Tax credits are a workaround-when revenue is down it takes money that is needed elsewhere. Now the can has been opened. I don’t see how this bill benefits residents of the upper country,” he said.
The other representative from district 7, Kyle Harris and the two other representatives from district 9, Judy Boyle and John Shirts, did not respond before the paper went to print.
