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Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV)

To: Home Educators of Virginia
From: Joe Guarino, director of government affairs
Date: Monday, January 31, 2005

2005 GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPDATE: Tax Credit Bill to be Heard TODAY

Last week, our update indicated we were reviewing several tax-credit bills. After much consideration, we would like to make you aware of HB 2914, the Virginia Education Investment Act, patroned by Del. Chris Saxman (R-Staunton). This tax credit is not exclusively for homeschool parents or even private school parents; it is for ALL parents with school-aged children who have qualified educational expenses.

A REVIEW OF THE BILL
Individuals would be able to benefit from this bill in one of two ways: they may receive a tax credit for their qualified educational expenses, or they may receive a tax credit for a contribution to a nonprofit education foundation. In either case, the maximum tax credit would be $800 for single filers and $1,200 for joint filers.

The bill defines "qualified educational expenses" as "school-related tuition and instructional fees and materials, including textbooks, workbooks, and supplies used solely for school-related work." It would not include expenses for field trips. If you have any of these expenses for students of compulsory school attendance age--and this bill becomes law—you would be eligible to take the tax credit. Specifically, “For taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2006, an individual taxpayer may receive a credit against any tax due … in an amount equal to 25 percent of … (ii) the total education expenses paid by the individual taxpayer for a student who is claimed as a dependent on the income tax return of the individual taxpayer.”

In other words, a taxpayer could deduct 25% of his qualified educational expenses up to $800 for a single filer and $1200 for a joint filer. For example, if you claim four school-aged children as dependents on your joint income tax return, and in 2006 you purchase $2,000 worth of "textbooks, workbooks, and supplies used solely for school-related work," then you may receive a tax credit equal to 25 percent of those expenses, or $500.

TODAY IS THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BILL
HB 2914 WILL FIRST BE HEARD THIS MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 31, in House Room D on the first floor of the General Assembly Building beginning at 6 p.m. The meeting may last two to three hours. Homeschoolers from across the state, but especially those in the Richmond area, are encouraged to show support by attending. You will not have to speak. If you choose to speak, we encourage you to speak AS AN INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN, NOT AS A HOMESCHOOLER. This is NOT a homeschool bill, nor do we want homeschooling to become an issue: This is a bill that will benefit ALL parents.


SPECIFICS:
TIME: 6 p.m.
DATE: Monday, January 31, 2005
PLACE: General Assembly Building, 9th and E. Broad Sts., House Room D (on first floor)
ROOM: House Finance Subcommittee #1

CONTACTING YOUR LEGISLATORS
You may contact the subcommittee members--as a concerned parent--as soon as possible to ask them to support the bill: For the delegates’ and senators’ contact information, click this address: http://leg1.state.va.us/041/mbr/MBR.HTM

Del. Orrock (Chairman),
Del. Parrish
Del. Lee Ware
Del. Lingamfelter
Del. Cole
Del. Hugo
Del. Janis
Del. Johnson
Del. Van Yahres
Del. Hull
Del. Shannon

DIRECTIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING
All roads lead to Richmond! Well, not exactly, but if you can find your way to I-95 or I-64, you can get to Richmond. We have provided directions from the major roads leading into Richmond. Please follow the directions from your area of the state.

From north or south of Richmond, take I-95 to Exit 74-C onto Broad St. heading west. Go about five lights to 9th St. On the near-left corner, you will see the back side of the General Assembly Building. On the far-right corner, you will see the Library of Virginia.

From east of Richmond, take I-64 West, toward Charlottesville. Take Exit 190 slowly onto 5th St. Go five blocks to E. Broad St. and turn left. Go four blocks to 9th St. On the far-right corner, you will see the back side of the General Assembly Building. On the near-left corner, you will see the Library of Virginia.

From northwest of Richmond, take I-64 East, toward Norfolk. Take I-64 Exit 187 into Downtown Richmond where I-64 merges with I-95. After about three miles, take I-95 Exit 76 slowly onto 3rd St. Go five blocks to E. Broad St. and turn left. Go six blocks to 9th St. On the far-right corner, you will see the back side of the General Assembly
>Building. On the near-left corner, you will see the Library of  Virginia.

From southwest of Richmond, take Rte 76/Powhite Parkway into Richmond. As you cross the James River Bridge, get into the right lane and take Rte 195/Downtown Expressway. Take the 7th/9th St. exit. Go to 9th St. and turn left. Go six blocks uphill to E. Broad St. On the near-right corner, you will see the side of the General Assembly Building. On the far-left corner, you will see the Library of Virginia.

PARKING
In the evening beginning at 6, you may park at any meter for free. We would suggest find your way to 9th and Main Sts. and turn north, one-way onto 9th. Go two blocks, turn left at Grace and begin looking along this first block. If nothing is there, turn left onto 8th and look for a space there. If not, go two blocks to Main St. and turn right. If nothing is there, turn right onto 7th, go to Franklin, and turn right. If you still haven’t found a spot on the street by the time you get back to 9th, turn left onto 9th, go back to Grace, turn left, go to 8th, turn left, and park in the deck on the right. (See a parking map from the Library of Virginia, which is across Broad Street from the General Assembly Building.)

DIRECTIONS HOME
If you are heading south, find your way back to E. Broad St. Go east to 14th St. where you will see the entrance for I-95 South and I-64 East.

If you are heading north, northwest, or east, find your way back to E. Broad St. Go to 7th St. which is one way north. Turn on 7th St. Go five blocks until you see the entrance for I-64 and I-95.

If you are heading southwest, find your way back to E. Broad St. Go to 8th St. which is one way south. Turn on 8th St. Go five blocks to Canal St. and turn right. You will see the entrance for the Downtown Expressway on your left.

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HEAV—Serving the homeschoolers of Virginia through information, legislation, and resources since 1983! Be sure to sign up to receive the FREE Virginia Home Educator magazine at http://www.heav.org.

HEAV (Home Educators Association of Virginia)
2248-G Dabney Road
Richmond, VA 23230

Phone: 804-278-9200
Fax: 804-278-9202
Website: http://www.heav.org
E-mail: info@heav.org; for legislative matters, legislative@heav.org