Fraud in parental choice programs and providing a penalty

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill subjects certain acts and omissions related to a Parental Choice Program (PCP) to criminal penalties. Under the bill, intentionally making a false statement or representation in an application to participate in a PCP is a Class A misdemeanor. The bill makes concealing or failing to disclose an event with an intent to fraudulently participate in a PCP or using a payment received under a PCP for an unauthorized purpose either a Class G or Class H felony, depending on the payment a person received under the PCP. Additionally, under the bill, a statement in a written application for a PCP is considered to be an admission of the existence, correctness, or validity of the statement. Finally, this bill authorizes the Department of Justice or a district attorney to prosecute violations of criminal laws affecting a PCP, including laws affecting the health, safety, and welfare of pupils attending a private school participating in a PCP.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to result if the bill is enacted.

Who's behind it

17 representatives are its authors⁠. All 17 are Democrats.

7 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.