Burr Works To Provide More Savings For Nc Families | Eastern North Carolina Now

    This week the Burr campaign will continue to highlight Senator Burr's work to provide North Carolina families with greater financial flexibility for their children's future. In addition to Senator Burr's success in helping ease the financial strain on families seeking affordable education opportunities, Senator Burr has also fought to improve overall quality of life for all North Carolinians. To help families who have a child with disabilities, Senator Burr fought to pass bipartisan legislation that would give those families a chance to save for their child's needs.

    Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act: Senator Burr worked with a bipartisan group in the Senate to write and pass the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act into law in 2014. This law allows families who have a child with a disability to save for their lifelong expenses through 529-style savings accounts. Prior to the ABLE Act, Americans with disabilities who had more than $2,000 to their name were unable to receive critical benefits and support necessary for their daily living.

    This stands in stark contrast with Deborah Ross' record of voting against tax credits for parents with a disabled child attending a private school. Rather than provide families with the financial means to choose what's best for their child, Ross joined 19 other North Carolina House members to vote against the bill that would have given parents an annual $6,000 tax credit.


    In June 2011, Ross Was One Of Only 20 House Members To Vote Against A Bill Creating An Individual Income Tax Credit For Children With Disabilities To Attend A Private School, And To Create A Fund For Special Education. (HB 344, Vote #1080: Passed 94-20, 6/16/11, Ross Voted No)

    The Bill Gave An Annual $6,000 Tax Credit To Families Whose Child With A Disability Moves From A Public School To Attending A Private School, Home School Or Public School That Charges Tuition. "Tax Credits for Children with Disabilities (House Bill 344 or HB 344) gives an annual $6,000 tax credit ($3,000 per semester) to families whose child with a disability moves from a public school to attending a private school, home school, or public school that charges tuition." (Autism Society Of North Carolina, www.autismsociety-nc.org, Accessed 12/22/15)

    The Bill Also Created A Special Needs Trust Fund To Supplement Funding For Special Education Services In Public Schools. "In a unique arrangement, the legislation also establishes a special needs trust fund to be administered by the NC Department of Public Instruction to supplement funding for special education services in the public schools. Since the amount of the tax credit is less than the average cost of educating a child with a disability in public schools, the tax credit saves the state of North Carolina money. Part of these savings will be retained by the special needs trust, part will go back to the state's general fund, and part will be used to fund the tax credit." (Autism Society Of North Carolina, www.autismsociety-nc.org, Accessed 12/22/15)

• Contact: Jesse Hunt
•     jhunt@burrforsenate.com