TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Legislation that would create voucher-like scholarships for students who have been bullied or suffered other abuses in public schools, continues to move in the Florida House of Representatives.
The house education committee approved a bill Wednesday that would create the hope scholarship program.
It would be funded through drivers making contributions when they buy cars or other vehicles. In exchange for the voluntary contributions, the motorists would receive tax credits at purchase time.
Bill sponsor Byron Donalds says, the legislation could help close to 6,000 students have a chance for a better education.
"This is a bill to help the victims of our state, to escape their schools if they cannot function anymore," said Donalds.
Most Democrats on the committee object to the legislation, saying it's just another attempt to expand the use of taxpayer dollars by private schools.
Representative Bruce Antone says another issue the bill doesn't deal with is kids being bullied.
"It does not guarantee that we are going to deal with the problem of, 'How are we going to stop the bullying?' It does not guarantee that the recipient of a Hope Scholarship will get a quality education," said Antone.
The legislation is ready for a final vote by the full Florida House of Representatives.
Similar legislation in the senate is schedule to have its second of three committee hearings on Thursday.
