Public weighs in on scholarship tax credit rule proposal

(AP) — The public will get the chance to weigh in during a hearing Thursday on proposed rules that would bar private schools with religious affiliations from taking advantage of a new scholarship tax credit program in Montana.

The Department of Revenue's proposal has already been panned by the legislation's sponsor and an association that represents religious schools as an attempt by regulators to subvert the new law, which goes into effect on Jan. 1.

Scholarship tax credit programs are an alternative to school voucher programs, and 15 states as of last year had some version of the tax credits, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.