Tennessee § 49-6-2608 - Suspension or termination of participating school or provider — Suspension or termination of participating or legacy student — Restitution — Criminal prosecution.

§ 49-6-2608. Suspension or termination of participating school or provider — Suspension or termination of participating or legacy student — Restitution — Criminal prosecution.

The department may suspend or terminate a participating school's or provider's participation in the program if the department determines that the participating school or provider has failed to comply with the requirements of this part. The state board shall promulgate rules allowing the department to suspend or terminate a participating school's participation in the program due to low academic performance, as determined by the department. If the department suspends or terminates a participating school's or provider's participation under this subsection (a), then the department shall notify affected participating students and the parents of participating students of the decision. If a participating school's or provider's participation in the program is suspended or terminated, or if a participating school or provider withdraws from the program, then affected participating students remain eligible to participate in the program. The department may suspend or terminate a participating student from the program, or close a legacy student's ESA, if the department determines that the participating student's or legacy student's parent or the participating student or legacy student has failed to comply with the requirements of this part. If the department terminates a participating student's or legacy student's participation in the program, then the department shall close the participating student's or legacy student's ESA. A parent of a participating student, a participating student, a legacy student, or any other person who uses the funds deposited in a participating student's ESA for expenses that do not constitute one (1) or more of the qualified expenses listed in § 49-6-2603(a)(4), or a parent of a participating student, a participating student, a legacy student, or any other person who misrepresents the nature, receipts, or other evidence of any expenses paid by the parent of a participating student, by a participating student, or by a legacy student is liable for restitution to the department in an amount equal to the amount of such expenses. If a person knowingly uses ESA funds for expenses that do not constitute one (1) or more of the qualified expenses listed in § 49-6-2603(a)(4) with the intent to defraud the program or knowingly misrepresents the nature, receipts, or other evidence of any expenses paid with the intent to defraud the program, then the department may refer the matter to the appropriate enforcement authority for criminal prosecution. Any funds remaining in an ESA that is closed in accordance with subsection (b) must be returned to the state treasurer to be placed in the basic education program (BEP) account of the education trust fund of 1992 under §§ 49-3-357 and 49-3-358. The state board shall promulgate rules to effectuate this section, including rules to establish a process for a participating school's, provider's, participating student's, or legacy student's suspension or termination from the program. The rules must be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5. Acts 2019, ch. 506, § 1.