NEWS RELEASE
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS · ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
House
Democratic Leader David Lujan, D-Phoenix (District 15)
House
Assistant Democratic Leader Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix (District 15)
House
Democratic Whip Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix (District 14)
House
Democratic Policy Leader Steve Farley, D-Tucson (District 28)
House
Democratic Leader Pro Tem Jack Brown, D-St. Johns (District 5)
www.strongerarizona.com
smuench@azleg.gov
Task force on private school tax credit program asks for
public comment
AG’s office to present findings from STO
investigation at task force meeting
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – The Bipartisan Task Force on the Private
School Tuition Tax Credits program is inviting members of the public to
testify at its next meeting on Nov. 12.
A
representative from the state Attorney General’s Office also will give a
presentation on its investigation into the issue.
Meeting
of the Bipartisan Task Force on the Private School Tuition Tax Credits program
When: Thursday, Nov. 12, 1 to 3 p.m.
Where: State Capitol, House Hearing Room 2
Request
to speak: The public will
be able to sign up to speak at the hearing.
“Public
input is vital to ensure this program is effective for Arizona’s school
children and that it’s not violating state and federal laws in the future,” said
Rep. David Schapira, D-Tempe (District 17), the task force’s chair. “Too many
questions and concerns have been raised about this program and its reported
violations of various laws. We need to take a clear look at it to build education
for a stronger Arizona.”
House
Democrats announced the creation of the task force in August specifically to
address the state’s Private School Tuition Tax Credits program problems and
work on bipartisan legislation to reform it.
Both
the East Valley Tribune’s investigative series and the Arizona Republic’s investigation detailed the potentially huge problems and reported
illegal activities that come from this tax credit program.
The
program allows taxpayers to donate money to school tuition organizations. These
STOs then give scholarships to children for private school tuition. In return,
the state matches the donations with a tax credit in exchange for their
contribution.
The
program was signed into law in 1997 by former Gov. Fife Symington and was
supposed to make private education more accessible to families who can't afford
it. But so far, that hasn't happened.
For
instance, according to the Tribune, some STOs reportedly are violating federal
tax laws that govern charitable organizations by operating with donations
earmarked for particular individuals. They also reportedly are violating state
law by not committing a sufficient portion of the donations to students while
buying luxury items.
Both
newspapers' investigative reports can be accessed online at www.eastvalleytribune.com
and www.azcentral.com.
“The
task force will be essential to address this problem and correct it,” said Rep.
Tom Chabin, D-Flagstaff (District 2), task force vice chair.
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