House kills bill for home-schooling tax credit

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah House has killed a bill that would have provided a $500 tax credit to families who home-school their children.

HB 77 died in a 32-37 vote on Thursday, with critics saying the measure was a slippery slope that could lead to similar credits for students at private schools or people with no children at all who aren’t reaping a direct benefit from public schools.

Republican bill sponsor David Lifferth of Eagle Mountain says the credit would help home-schooled students pay for books and other supplies that aren’t covered by the state.

Democratic bill opponent Carol Spackman Moss of Salt Lake City says many home-schoolers are benefiting from the public school system when they participate in extracurricular activities or online courses.

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Online: HB 77 http://le.utah.gov/~2014/bills/static/HB0077.html

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