NH 2003 Legislative Session

Funding for Home Education Programs

last updated 03/10/03 12:30PM

This is apparently the year that everyone wants to give tax dollars to homeschoolers. For several years bills have appeared sporadically, sponsored by little-known legislators. This year there are 4, count 'em, 4 bills that would put money in the hands of homeschooling families, supported by 16 sponsors (all Republicans; 12 House members, 4 Senators).

There are many who would urge home educators to turn down this largesse, fearing that increased regulation would surely follow. They argue, "At least leave an option for those who wish not to accept tax dollars and all the control that would come with it."

An unanswered question is whether or not this would increase the number of home educated students in NH, presumably taking some of the pressure off public schools and the state budget.

NH House Bill 603 (LSR 946)

an act requiring school districts to reimburse a portion of per pupil costs directly to parents or legal guardians of pupils who do not attend a public school.

last updated 02/27/03, 6:00PM

Analysis

Under this bill, a school district would be required to issue a reimbursement of 50% of the most recently available average base cost per pupil of an adequate education, to the parent or legal guardian of any child who is not enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school. The reimbursements would be paid out each school year directly to the parent or legal guardian of the child. A parent or legal guardian must notify the local school district, at least 45 days prior to the start of the school year, of his or her intent not to enroll his or her child or children in a public elementary or secondary school.

Assuming a Sept 1st public school start date, home educators would have to notify their local school district around July 15th of their intent to homeschool to be elegible for this payment.

The average base cost per pupil of an adequate education for the fiscal year 2004 is $3,556. 50% of that is $1,778.

The DOE estimates that local expenditures will rise by $15,771,937 in the first year due to non-public school students alone. This makes it an unfunded mandate.

Status - hearing held, awaiting committee vote

You can also go to this site and type in "HB603" in the box labelled "Bill Number" to find the status of the bill.

Referred to House Education Committee 01/09/03
House Education Committee Hearing 02/19/03, 1:30PM, RM207,LOB
House Education Committee Vote and Reports
House Vote
Senate Education Committee Hearing
Senate Education Committee Vote and Reports
Senate Vote
Conference Committee Vote
Governor Signs/Vetoes Bill

Sponsors

NH House Bill 691 (LSR 872)

an act creating a credit against property tax liability for a portion of the cost of home-educated pupils and pupils attending nonpublic schools.

last updated 02/08/03, 11:00PM

Analysis

Any parent or legal guardian who enrolls one or more children in an approved home education program or an approved nonpublic school shall be eligible for a credit each year of up to 50% of his/her property tax (not just state property tax, but the whole thing).

The parent must file with the selectmen or assessors, by March 1 following the date of notice of tax, a permanent application, signed under penalty of perjury, on a form approved and provided by the commissioner of revenue administration, showing that the applicant is the owner of the property on which the credit is claimed and that the applicant was qualified upon April 1 of the year in which the credit is first claimed.

This law permits, but does not compel, each town to enact this credit.

Status - hearing scheduled

You can also go to this site and type in "HB691" in the box labelled "Bill Number" to find the status of the bill.

Referred to House Municipal and County Government Committee 01/09/03
House Municipal and County Government Committee Hearing 03/05/03 3:00PM, RM301, LOB
House Municipal and County Government Committee Vote and Reports
House Vote
Senate Ways and Means? Committee Hearing
Senate Ways and Means? Committee Vote and Reports
Senate Vote
Conference Committee Vote
Governor Signs/Vetoes Bill

Sponsors

NH House Bill 754 (LSR 218)

an act establishing an education certificate program to allow parental choice in the selection of schools for children.

last updated 03/10/03, 10:00AM

Analysis

The bill establishes a program in the Department of Education that would supply to the parent of a school-age child in grades K-12 a certificate to be used for educational payments at a nonpublic school or home school program selected by the child's parent. The value of the certificate would be based on the cost of an adequate education for that pupil. For non-public schools, it would be redeemed by the school by the school for the cost of tuition, up to the value of the certificate. For home education programs, the maximum would be $1000.

Status - hearing held; awaiting committee report

You can also go to this site and type in "HB754" in the box labelled "Bill Number" to find the status of the bill.

Referred to House Education Committee 01/30/03
House Education Committee Hearing 03/03/2003, 2:00PM, RM207,LOB
House Education Commitee retains bill 3/6/03
House Education Committee Vote and Reports
House Vote
Senate Education Committee Hearing
Senate Education Committee Vote and Reports
Senate Vote
Conference Committee Vote
Governor Signs/Vetoes Bill

Sponsors

NH House Bill 756 (LSR 226)

an act promoting parental choice in education and providing for an abatement from the education taxes for parents of children not enrolled in the public school system.

last updated 02/08/03, 11:00PM

Analysis

The general court recognizes that parents who choose not to educate their children in the public school system provide an avoided cost to the school district in the municipality in which they reside. This avoided cost is the result of lower variable costs in consumables, and lower costs associated with teaching staff and school physical plant. Moreover, the removal of these pupils from the public schools results in greater per pupil resources available for the education of pupils remaining in the public schools.

The governing body of the municipality, to the extent it determines that nonpublic school enrollment benefits the public welfare through avoided per pupil public school costs, shall make an abatement to a resident taxpayer in the amount of $300 against the education property tax for each resident taxpayer's child who is not enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school.

A municipality may, by a majority vote of the legislative body, elect to grant an additional abatement from the education property tax, in an amount to be determined by the municipality, to a resident taxpayer for each resident taxpayer's child who is not enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school.

The language seems to permit a municipality to decide that these children do not cause per pupil public school costs to be avoided, and to refuse to make the abatement. In other words, the abatement would seem to be voluntary.

Status - hearing scheduled

You can also go to this site and type in "HB756" in the box labelled "Bill Number" to find the status of the bill.

Referred to House Municipal and County Government Committee
House Municipal and County Government Committee Hearing 03/05/03 10:30AM RM301,LOB
House Municipal and County Government Committee Vote and Reports
House Vote
Senate Ways and Means? Committee Hearing
Senate Ways and Means? Committee Vote and Reports
Senate Vote
Conference Committee Vote
Governor Signs/Vetoes Bill

Sponsors

NH House Bill 773 (LSR 481)

an act establishing a committee to study a tuition tax credit program

last updated 03/15/03, 1:00PM

Analysis

This bill establishes a committee to study a tuition tax credit program and the financial impact of granting a credit against state taxes for tuition paid to nonpublic schools or to qualifying nonprofit student scholarship programs. While this does not necessarily include homeschoolers, the bill is clearly related to some of the bills which do.

Here is a letter from Rep Peyton Hinkle, House Ways & Means Committee member

Status - committee recommends amendment and adoption

You can also go to this site and type in "HB773" in the box labelled "Bill Number" to find the status of the bill.

Referred to House Ways and Means Committee 1/30/03
House Ways and Means Committee Hearing 03/05/03
House Ways and Means Government Committee voted 3/10/03 to recommend amendment and adoption
House Vote Scheduled 3/20/03
Senate Ways and Means Committee Hearing
Senate Ways and Means Committee Vote and Reports
Senate Vote
Conference Committee Vote
Governor Signs/Vetoes Bill

Sponsors