A bill to massively expand a state voucher program is headed to the Senate floor after winning approval from a key Senate committee Friday.
The Senate Ways and Means committee signed off on SB 2126, which would allow more students to apply for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program. It would expand the cap on how much in scholarship money can be awarded from $118 million to $140 million and increase the individual award over time from the current level of $3,950 to 80 percent of the per pupil spending awarded by the state to public schools. Currently, the state spends about $6,900 per public school student.
The scholarship is paid for by donations from corporations, which in turn receive a tax credit from the state. The bill would also give tax credits to companies that pay certain other taxes such as oil and gas production taxes, and alcohol beverage taxes.
In my view, it is not a voucher, it is a tax credit scholarship, said Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart.
Paula Blake, whose son Marquez is a recipient of the scholarship, said he had behavioral and grade problems before transferring to Innovation School for Excellence in Tallahassee. Now, she said, he is in seventh grade, plays sports and enjoys going to school. He has also made the honor roll.
He's never, ever, ever made the honor roll before, she said.
The legislation does come with a price tag though. The state's general revenue coffers would lose $31 million in taxes, according to Senate staff analysis. Proponents of the bill counter, however, that if all the voucher students went to public school, the state would have to put more into the public education budget.
Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, said that she could not support taking any more money away from public schools when they are struggling as is.
It gives me great angst that we would be expanding vouchers and diverting general revenue when we can least afford it, she said.
The legislation now goes to the Senate floor. Its House companion has not yet had a committee hearing.
