If you are the sponsor or co-sponsor of this bill, please feel free to comment below about what the reviewer’s comments are.
Bill Details: HB0134: TAX CREDIT FOR HOME-SCHOOLING PARENT
Sponsor: Rep. David E. Lifferth, Co-Sponsor:
Bill Summary:
This bill enacts an individual income tax credit. HB 0134 defines terms, enacts a tax credit for a home-schooling parent, provides that the tax credit is subject to apportionment, and requires the Revenue and Taxation Interim Committee to conduct a study related to the tax credit.
Reviewer Name: Amy Olson, Rating: Support
Reviewer Comments:
It’s only “0.1%” of school tax for the state of Utah. Let’s understand this for what it is. We home educate and have every reason to get this right. The bill is nothing more than what it simply says. This would work the same for each home education family and here’s why:
1. Bill 134 should have your support for home educators who already submit to a local list of exempt students with their school districts. Thankfully, as of last year, we no longer have to do this annually, but yes they already know all the people who home educate.
2. Bill 134 is fair because it cuts the strings. This allows home education families, who pay taxes, to petition for a small portion of their own funds to support their decision to care for the education of their own children. The discussion needs to begin and laws such as this as a starting-point of funds from the local school district to their own children is a small one. This is less than 0.1% of Utah state funds collected. Then even less would declare it. This is, at the point of being taxed, is a simple credit and nothing more. I would watch this so as to ensure it’s never more about a point to control. To be governed yes, but not control–there is a difference.
3. Bill 134 offers a specific home education tax credit no more intrusive than petitioning for an adoption tax credit. Let me share, we have also done that as well and not complained about that years after. We actually enjoyed the credit over a period of three years. This bill does not do that. At the very least taxes is no longer the individual’s funds. Many home educators are very cautious about strings attached so it’s better to petition for those funds at the point of tax refund without strings than to petition for them through a third party education service (for example, My Tech High, k12.com (beginning in 2006 for Utah), or Harmony Ed. Services) who partner with the school districts or state funded who then ask participants to jump through rigorous hoops, ensuring data mining with testing, etc.,
4. Bill 134 stems from a great idea, long overdue. We want this to pass in both the state house and senate by legislators so that the Governor will pass it. It can’t be changed from the original bill unless it’s substituted. We know the state constitution and the rules. We support Bill 134, following it through until enacted. Should the governor, sign it, it becomes effective for 60 days following adjournment unless another date is specified in the bill. It then becomes law. Should it be tabled, we’ll see and follow it. I am enjoying the discussions.
5. If Bill 134 does nothing more than lure parents to become more involved in their child’s education, awesome! It’s not always a pleasure, and there is a number of reasons not to home educate, last of all funds. This bill will only recuperate a fraction of funds while executing the best of intentions for parents who want to create and expand their child’s resources or personal library. The principle to “go the distance” is in place with or without funds. People know their limits and they know their choices are simple, public, private, charter, or home. To offer children educational tools at home is an improvement! Naturally “going the distance” when there is parental involvement is returning to good courage for education.
6. There is a constitutional rectifying with Bill 134. If it claims or entitles the rights of the parents to educate their child, reiterating that the care and education of children is upon the parent or legal guardian, not the state, then I support this. Parents who love and know their child’s immediate needs, and execute the accountability with home education should give the state of Utah an opportunity to support this choice with Bill 134. In fact, I’m pretty sure this bill stems from those who only wish to petition a tax credit solely for nothing more than that which is already double dipping.
7. The choice to home educate is becoming more and more meant for law as long as it’s the fastest growing means of education. “The Law” by Frederic Bastiat defines law as, “…the collective organization of the individual right to lawful defense.” In this case petitioning one’s individual personal gain, which is then taxed, is one’s own funds absolutely an individual right.
8. And good, my fellow home educators, if they wish to exercise their support to the community by not petitioning for this, that is a personal choice at the point of taxation which is where this bill begins.
9. As school seats continue to be empty due to the growing trend of home educators and the clear and present dissatisfaction of parents, the country wide. We then will have time to be over the shoulders of those administrators who continue to be reckless with funds or propose school Bonds unnecessarily. No longer trusting that what they petition for is not immediately needed because it continues to hurt the budgets of the state’s families who want to provide extra curricular tools. Indeed public school administrators must manage buildings. Furthermore a better building would be used all year, turning the buildings into recreation centers or after school community programs, caucus meetings. Our Utah communities deserve it. [History: at the time of statehood, school boards are their own separate power, not connected with legislators or the governor but they must work together. I also appose SJR5: Constitutional Amendment to Change School Board from Election to Appointment. It must be left for “the People” to decide, there is too much funded for education to connect them with the governor’s office, “I don’t care if it’s unconstitutional!”
10. Bill 134 is nothing we’ve ever seen before. At the same time, this country has not seen home educators thriving to the numbers of today. Please don’t allow fears to dictate for this promising opportunity for families who home educate. There are too many families in Utah who don’t wish for testing rigors. We saw that change last year. Let’s follow this and remain in the context of it, through both house and senate, and await the Governor’s Action. When in doubt read it again. It’s disturbing when our country (of which I love) is compared with another nation. We are the home of the brave which is where we choose to educate in “the home” as loving parents who better govern the matters of the family.
Thank you,
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Past Comments
Comment by Jaime (March 3, 2015 at 12:10 pm)
Rating: Strongly Oppose
You say tax credit, the public will then call on regulation. ‘If you get a tax credit, I should too, what are you doing in your homeschool? , are you even qualified?’
I say no thanks. Is rather not be placed under the microscope