JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – A bill designed to help less fortunate students is generating controversy.

House Bill 1433, which was authored by State Rep. Rob Roberson (R-District 43), intends to find education options for students in ‘D’ or ‘F’-rated schools.

The proposed legislation is known as the Quality Desert Education Enrollment and Transfer Scholarship Act. It would being with an initial fund of $5 million.

“We’re here for the right reasons. We’re trying to make this the best we can for the poor kids. The bottom line on any of this is the in the other piece of legislation, this this may fall. They may not even pass the Senate. They may not ever get past our own calendar. But we need to be talking about this stuff,” Roberson said.

Critics said the bill would put a tremendous burden on taxpayers.

“According to the School Choice Lobby, the top 10 states for school choice have all gone backwards. If you look at their test scores in the last 10 years, they are all moving backwards, some very significantly. So, for example, Florida has been held up as the school with the most school choice, and they have lost almost ten points in their scale scores, their average test scores on national reading exams,” said Nancy Loome, executive director of The Parents’ Campaign.

Bills will go to the House floor for votes next week.