Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6.

Subject to appropriation, this bill establishes a program, to be administered by the department of education, to provide education grants for students in K-8 who qualify under federal law for free or reduced lunch (eligible students). The grant will be up to $3,000 per eligible student, to be used for eligible education expenses (discussed below). Grant funds will be awarded to eligible students on a first-come, first-served basis until all available funds are distributed. This bill will be repealed on June 30, 2024. This bill sets out requirements for the department for administering the program, which include: (1) Establishing procedures to determine student eligibility; (2) Establishing an income-verification process for a parent of an eligible student to verify that the student's household income meets the federal law requirements for free or reduced lunch; (4) Selecting a third party to build a grant distribution platform; (5) Administering or selecting a third party to administer the grant distribution platform; and (6) Providing parents of eligible students with a written explanation of the allowable uses of grant funds, the responsibilities of parents regarding grant funds, and the department's duties regarding grant funds, eligible students, and students. This bill authorizes the department to deduct 2 percent from the total amount of grant funds appropriated under this bill to cover the costs of overseeing the funds and administering the program. This bill provides that if a person knowingly uses grant funds for expenses that do not constitute one or more of the eligible expenses listed in this bill with the intent to defraud the grant program or knowingly misrepresents the nature, receipts, or other evidence of any expenses paid with the intent to defraud the grant program, then the department may refer the matter to the appropriate enforcement authority for criminal prosecution. A participating student may be suspended or terminated from participation in the grant program if the department determines that the parent of the participating student or participating student has failed to comply with the requirements of this bill. If a parent of a participating student is found to misuse grant funds, then neither the parent nor another parent of the participating student living in the same household may apply for a grant in the future for any student; provided, that the parent may appeal an audit finding according to a process established by the department. A parent of a participating student or any other person who uses the grant funds for expenses that do not constitute one or more of the eligible expenses listed in this bill, or misrepresents the nature, receipts, or other evidence of any expenses paid by the parent of a participating student is liable for restitution to the department in an amount equal to the amount of such expenses. "Eligible education expense" for purposes of this bill means: (A) Tutoring services provided by a tutor or tutoring facility that meets the requirements established by the department; (B) Computer hardware, technological devices, or other technology fees approved by the department, if the computer hardware, technological device, or technology fee is used for the student's educational needs; (C) Textbooks, curriculum, or other instructional materials; (D) Child care services; (E) Educational therapy services, including, but not limited to, occupational, behavioral, physical, speech-language, and audiology therapies that meet the requirements established by the department and the state board of education; (F) Supplemental education services; and (G) Other education expenses as approved by the department pursuant to this bill.