NH 2006 Legislative Session

Bills of interest to Homeschoolers

last updated 5/2/06 at 11:00AM

All the bills listed here address issues that have in the past affected homeschoolers in this state or in other states, or have the potential to affect homeschoolers here in NH.

Obviously, one person alone cannot track all these bills. I would be indebted to anyone who passes along information, or who takes on the task of tracking particular bills. If you notice any errors or glaring omissions, please contact me.

Chris Hamilton
673-0189

Issue Last updated
Bill number and title*SummaryStatus
Home education law 04/30/06
When the NH BOE published the first draft of the new minimum standards for public schools, they started with a declaration that these rules constituted the definition of an adequate education. Many legislators want that definition to be determined by the legislature, as it has a significant impact on the budget. Consequently, the process by which rules are adopted is undergoing a great deal of scrutiny this session.
HB 1229 - prohibiting the use of false documentation for employment, government services, or permits * Could the language be so broad as to include letters of intent?
  • 2/24/06 House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 12-2 Inexpedient to Legislate (see report)
  • 3/07/06 House voted 74-240 to reject the recommendation of the committee.
  • 3/07/06 House voted 164-151 to lay the bill on the table.
  • 4/12/06 House voted 108-185 not to remove the bill from the table.
HB 1351 - making certain changes to the administrative procedures act * Will affect adoption of new rules if HB406 passes.
  • 2/23/06 House Executive Departments and Administration Committee voted 13-0 Ought to Pass with Amendment (see report)
  • 3/07/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote.
  • 4/26/06 Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee voted 3-0 Ought to Pass
  • 5/03/06 Scheduled for a Senate vote
Compulsory attendance, dropout, expulsions 4/30/06
SB268 is being tracked on this page.


SB 268 - raising the age for the required attendance of children in school.		 * Does not change RSA 193-A, but does require compulsory attendance at a public school or an acceptable alternative up to the age of 18.
  • 1/24/06 Senate Education Committee hearing - recessed
  • 2/07/06 Senate Education Committee hearing - reconvened
  • 2/14/06 Scheduled for Senate Education Committee executive session -- RESCHEDULED
  • 2/21/06 Scheduled for Senate Education Committee executive session -- RESCHEDULED
  • 3/07/06 Senate Education Committee votes 3-2 Ought to Pass with amendment
    Amendment changes definition of child in RSA 193-A:1 to "6 to 18".
  • 3/16/06 Senate concurs on a voice vote
  • 3/20/06 Senate Finance Committee votes 6-2 Ought to Pass with amendment
    Amendment funds a 2-year pilot vocational education program in Nashua and Manchester
  • 3/22/06 Senate accepts the committee's amendment on a voice vote
  • 3/22/06 Senate rejects Senator Boyce's floor amendment on a voice vote
  • 3/22/06 Senate concurs on a 17-7 roll call vote
  • 4/06/06 House Education Committee votes 11-10 Ought to Pass (see reports)
  • 4/12/06 House fails to concur on a vote of 132-219
  • 4/12/06 House sends the bill for Interim Study on a vote of 309-44
  • Please note that there are indications that portions of this bill may be attached by the Senate to other bills that the House would like to see passed. This could happen any time before the end of the legislative session.
Educational alternatives, charter schools 3/09/06 All bills in the category were defeated.
Dual enrollment 4/30/06
HB 1113 - adding a definition of public academy to New Hampshire law * BOE would approve all contracts between districts and public academies. The approval process would be a chance for homeschoolers to push for access to classes at public academies which serve their communities.
  • 02/23/06 House Education Committee voted 15-0 Ought to Pass with Amendment (see report)
  • 03/07/06 House concurred on a voice vote.
  • 04/18/06 Senate Education Committee voted 5-0 Ought to Pass with Amendment
    The amendment:
    • Adds members to the state advisory committee on the education of children/students with disabilities.
    • Changes the definition of "limited English proficient pupil" for the state funding formula.
  • 5/03/06 Scheduled for a Senate vote
Vouchers, abatements, tax credits 4/21/06 SB 131 did not make it to crossover last year. My impression is that some House members grew impatient waiting for the Senate Education Committee to complete its work, and introduced HB1707 in an attempt to get the deliberations started on the House side in order to get passage of a bill by the end of the current session. SB131 appears to be the bill moving forward with this policy change.
SB 131 - establishing a school choice certificate program * At this point the bill does not contain any references to home education.
  • 1/11/06 Senate Education Committee voted 5-1 Ought To Pass with Amendment
    Amendment replaces entire bill with "21st Century Scholars Fund"
  • 1/18/06 Senate concurred with the report 14-9
  • 4/06/06 House Education Commitee votes 13-8 Ought to Pass with Amendment
    Amendment reduces the appropriation to $1.00 (see reports)
  • 4/12/06 House concurs with the committee majority report on a vote of 186-166
  • 4/26/06 House Ways and Means Committee voted 11-10 Inexpedient to Legislate (see reports)
  • 5/04/06 Scheduled for a House vote
HB 1707 - establishing a school choice certificate program * At this point the bill does not contain any references to home education.
  • 2/23/06 House Education Committee voted 11-9 Ought to Pass with Amendment (see report)
  • 3/09/06 House voted to indefinitely postpone any action by a vote of 174 to 154
Special education 4/21/06 The House Education Committee has established the Ad Hoc Committee for Special Education State Statutes Review , headed by Representative Stiles , to study all the special education issues brought before it this session, and to recommend legislation for the 2007 session.
HB 1532 - revising the special education statutes * The biggest change is that the BOE will be responsible for contracting with various agencies to provide special education services, and will be responsible for setting the rates of reimbursement for those services. The quality of services affects home education by increasing or decreasing the number of parents who turn to home education as a solution to underperforming schools.
  • 2/23/06 House Education Committee recommends referral for interim study by a vote of 15-0 (see report)
  • 3/07/06 House concurs with the report by a voice vote
SB338 - relative to insurance coverage for children's early intervention therapy services. * This bill requires insurance policies to provide coverage for the costs of early intervention services for children from birth to 36 months. Currently the state bears the cost for the vast majority of these services.
  • 3/15/06 Senate Banking and Insurance Committee recommends the bill be referred to interim study on a vote of 4-0
  • 3/22/06 Senate Laid the bill on the Table on a voice vote
Driver's education, youth operators 4/30/06
HB 1581 - relative to drivers' licenses for persons under the age of 21 * This bill requires that drivers' licenses issued to persons under the age of 21 be of a different design than other licenses.
  • 2/08/06 House Transportation Committee voted 14-0 Ought To Pass with Amendment (see report)
  • 2/15/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote
  • 4/21/06 Senate Transportation and Interstate Cooperation Committee voted 4-0 Ought to Pass with Amendment:
    • amendment specifies the differences more clearly
  • 5/03/06 Scheduled for a Senate vote
Child labor laws 1/15/06
no known bills
College access 4/30/06
HB 1459 - relative to the department of regional community-technical colleges and making an appropriation therefor. * Provides funding to allow tuition at community colleges to remain at the 2005-2006 level in 2006-2007.
  • 2/24/06 House Finance Committee voted 21-0 Ought to Pass with Amendment (see report)
  • 3/22/06 House concurs with the report on a vote of 242-55
  • 4/27/06 Senate Finance Committed voted 7-0 Ought to Pass with Amendment
    Amendment:
    • Reduces the amount drawn from the general fund from $1.2 million to $400,000
    • Authorizes the technical colleges to use funds from the non-lapsing account for unexpended funds
    • Authorizes and appropriates $600,000 additional bonding for construction of a health education center at NHTI in Concord
  • 5/03/06 Scheduled for a Senate vote
Early childhood 2/21/05
See SB338 under Special Education.
School improvement programs 4/21/06
There are several LSR's that set new expectations for accountability for the Department of Education. There are also several LSR's that are reactions to No Child Left Behind and the lawsuits it has generated, but it is not clear if the complaint is with the policy or with the (lack of) funding.
HB 1241 - mandating the inclusion of kindergarten as part of an elementary school.
- (new title) extending the kindergarten construction aid program.		 * Is mandatory kindergarten in our future?
  • 2/08/06 House Education Committee voted 10-4 Ought To Pass with Amendment (see reports)
  • 2/15/06 House concurred with the report 231-99
  • 3/16/06 House Finance Committee voted 15-4 OTP (see report)
  • 3/22/06 House concurred with the report on a vote of 196-112
  • 4/11/06 Senate Education Committee voted 2-0 Ought to Pass
  • 4/20/06 Senate concurred with the report on a voice vote
  • 4/25/06 Senate Finance Committee voted 8-0 Ought to Pass with Amendment
    • Amendment removes the funding provisions
  • 5/03/06 Scheduled for a Senate vote
School accountability 2/21/06
There is not a lot of activity in this area this session. This probably indicates satisfaction with the new public school minimum standards adopted by the BOE this past year.
School funding 2/21/06
There seem to be three areas of major concern this session: use of surplus funds, use of federal funds, and how special education is funded. There is also a bill that challenges last year's solution to funding adequate education grants, proposing to eliminate the increase in the tobacco tax.
Claremont 3/09/06
All bills in this section were voted ITL.
Teacher certification 1/15/06
No known bills
Child Protection Act, DCYF, custody 4/21/06
SB 370 - relative to multidisciplinary child protection teams * This bill permits the department of health and human services to enter into agreements with other agencies and professionals to assist in investigating and evaluating reports of child abuse and neglect.
  • 2/9/06 Senate Health and Human Services voted 7-0 Ought to Pass
  • 2/16/06 Senate concurred with the report on a voice vote
  • 4/06/06 House Children and Family Law Committee voted 13-0 Ought to Pass with Amendment (see report)
  • 4/07/06 Bill pulled back to committee
  • 4/19/06 House Children and Family Law Commitee voted 12-0 Ought to Pass
  • 4/26/06 House voted to concur on a voice vote
HB 1424 - relative to persons permitted to attend child abuse and neglect hearings * This bill allows interested persons invited by a party to the hearing with the court's approval to be admitted to child abuse and neglect hearings.
  • 2/02/06 House Child and Family Law Committee voted 14-0 Ought to Pass with Amendment (see report)
  • 2/15/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote
  • 4/19/06 Senate Judiciary Committee voted 4-0 Ought to Pass
  • 5/03/06 Scheduled for a Senate vote
Parental rights 4/21/06
There are several bills that do not affect home education programs directly, but whose outcome will depend on the legislature's view of the role of the parent, an issue of concern to home educators.
HB 1709 - establishing an autism registry in the department of health and human services * At the moment there appears to be no link between this database and any Special Education database. Reports are deemed confidential, but I do not know what that term means in the context of DHHS.
  • 2/10/06 House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee voted 13-0 Ought to Pass with Amendment (see report)
    Comment: Amendment removes requirement to provide name of child, and stipulates that the registry will not be established until grant money is obtained
  • 2/22/06 House concurred on a voice vote
  • 4/12/06 Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted 4-0 Ought to Pass
  • 4/20/06 Senate concurs with the report on a voice vote
Miscellaneous 4/21/06
HB 1660 - regulating identity theft. * Applies to information provided by parent to meet requirements of the home education law.
  • 2/09/06 House Commerce Committee voted 18-0 Ought To Pass with Amendment (see report)
  • 2/15/06 House amended the bill as recommended by the committee on a voice vote.
  • 2/15/06 House passed a floor amendment by Rep Kurk passed 254-87.
    The amendment reduced the number of days before notice from 15 to 3.
  • 2/15/06 House voted Ought to Pass as amended on a voice vote
  • 2/23/06 House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 16-0 Ought to Pass with Amendment (see report)
  • 3/07/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote
  • 04/07/06 Senate Judiciary Committee voted 4-0 Ought to Pass with Amendment
    The amendment:
    • dealt with encrypted data
    • removed the requirement to notify within 3 days
    • more clearly defined remedies available to injured parties
  • 04/13/06 Senate concurred with the report on a voice vote
SB 323 - establishing a legislative youth advisory council. * It would be interesting if a home educated student were appointed to this council. "Home school students" are specifically mentioned as possible members.
  • 2/27/06 Senate Public and Municipal Affairs Committee Hearing voted 6-0 Ought to Pass
  • 3/9/06 Senate concurred with the report on a voice vote.
  • 4/05/06 House Children and Family Law Committee voted 12-0 Ought to Pass (see report)
  • 4/07/06 Bill pulled back into committee
  • 4/19/06 House Children and Family Law Committee voted 13-0 Ought to Pass with Amendment
  • 4/26/06 House voted to concur on a voice vote

Bills that have become law

Issue Last updated
Bill Number and title*SummaryStatus
Home education 3/15/06
HB406 is being tracked on this page.


HB 406 - an act revising certain provisions of the home education statutes		 * This bill removes the requirement to submit a curriculum at the time of notification, and all due process procedures associated with rejection of a letter of notification. It removes the ability of the commissioner to investigate allegations of educational neglect due to a parent failing to provide a home education program that meets the requirements of the law. It removes the requirement to have planned and supervised instruction. 2005 action
Senate
  • 01/10/06 Senate Education Committee votes OTP/AM
  • 01/12/06 Amendment published in Senate Calendar No.2
  • 01/18/06 Senate rejects SEC report
  • 01/18/06 Senate passes bill unamended
  • 2/09/06 Senate accepts enrolled bill amendment
    Amendment supplies omitted section header
  • 02/22/06 House accepts enrolled bill amendment
  • 3/13/06 Governor signed the bill; effective date is 05/12/06
Driver's education, youth operators 4/30/06
HB 1484 - relative to including motorcycle safety in driver education courses * Requires two hours of motorcycle safety education in driver education courses.
  • 2/16/06 House Transportation Committee voted 10-0 Ought to Pass With Amendment (see report)
  • 2/22/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote
  • 3/23/06 Senate Transportation and Interstate Cooperation Committee recommended Ought to Pass on a vote of 6-0
  • 4/06/06 Senate concurred with the report on a voice vote
  • 4/27/06 Governor signed the bill; effective date is 6/23/06
College access 4/30/06
HB 1503 - relative to financial programs administered by the postsecondary education commission * Extends, among other things, the Granite State Scholars program.
  • 1/20/06 House Executive Departments and Administration voted 20-0 Ought to Pass (see report)
  • 2/01/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote
  • 3/07/06 Senate Education Committee voted 5-0 Ought to Pass
  • 3/16/06 Senate concurred on a voice vote
  • 3/31/06 Governor signed the bill, effective date is 7/1/06

Bills that did not pass the legislature

Issue Last updated
Bill number and title*SummaryStatus
Home education 3/9/06
When the NH BOE published the first draft of the new minimum standards for public schools, they started with a declaration that these rules constituted the definition of an adequate education. Many legislators want that definition to be determined by the legislature, as it has significant impact on the budget. Consequently, the process by which rules are adopted is undergoing a great deal of scrutiny this session.
HB 1287 - requiring legislative approval of any rules proposed by the state board of education. * Will affect adoption of new rules if HB406 passes.
  • 2/21/06 House Education Committee voted 11-0 Inexpedient to Legislate (see report)
  • 3/07/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote.
HB 1397 - prohibiting an agency from adopting rules over the objection of the joint legislative committee on administrative rules * Will affect adoption of new rules if HB406 passes. JLCAR has limited grounds on which to object to rules.
  • 2/21/06 House Executive Departments and Administration Committee voted 12-0 Inexpedient to Legislate (see report)
  • 3/07/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote.
Compulsory attendance, dropout, expulsions 2/21/06 No tracked bills in this category have yet been voted ITL.
Educational alternatives, charter schools 3/09/06
HB 1378 - establishing a committee to study the financial implications on local school districts when special education students attend charter schools. * The effect of home educated students entering a charter school is greater than that of a public school student. The increased costs of educating a special needs student who was formerly home educated will exacerbate that effect.
  • 2/15/06 House Education Committee voted 12-0 Inexpedient to Legislate (see report)
  • 2/22/06 House concurs with the report on a voice vote (2/3).
Dual enrollment 2/21/06
HB 1695 - defining an adequate education and relative to calculating the cost of an adequate education and adequate education grants. * Since the determination of adequate education grants relies more heavily on actual costs incurred by the district and less on pupil enrollment, there may be less disincentive to permit homeschooled students access.
  • 2/08/06 House Education Committee voted 17-0 Inexpedient to Legislate (see report)
  • 2/15/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote
Vouchers, abatements, tax credits 2/21/06 No tracked bills in this category have yet been voted ITL.
Special education 2/21/06
HB 1685 - establishing a special needs scholarship program * Only applies to students currently attending a public school that decides to participate in this program. It may cause some who would have turned to home education as a solution to underperforming schools to enroll their child in a non-public school.
  • 2/08/06 House Education Committee voted 16-0 Inexpedient to Legislate (see report)
  • 2/15/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote
HB 1432 - establishing a commission on special education funding * Commissions with a broad scope can produce proposals with far-reaching side-effects.
  • 2/08/06 House Education Committee voted 15-0 Inexpedient to Legislate (see report)
  • 2/15/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote
HB 1308 - establishing a committee to study revising the New Hampshire special education statutes * Study committees with a broad scope can produce proposals with far-reaching side-effects.
  • 2/15/06 House Education Committee voted 16-0 Inexpedient to Legislate (see report)
  • 2/22/06 House concurred with the report by voice vote (2/3)
Driver's education, youth operators 3/09/06
HB1244 - relative to eligibility to receive moneys from the driver training fund * This bill makes private drivers' schools eligible to receive moneys from the driver training fund. It may decrease the cost of attending a private school.
  • 2/08/06 House Transportation Committee voted 12-0 Inexpedient to Legislate (see report)
  • 2/15/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote
HB 1291 - relative to automobile insurance coverage for drivers in the same household as the policyholder. * This bill requires insurance companies to permit an automobile insurance policyholder to decline coverage for drivers in the same household.
  • 2/17/06 House Commerce Committee voted 17-0 Inexpedient to Legislate (see report)
  • 3/07/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote.
Child labor laws 1/15/06 No known bills in this category.
College access 3/09/06
SB 362 - relative to a tuition reduction for certain students taking courses at a regional community-technical college. * This bill permits students in good standing at any high school in this state, including students participating in a home education program at the high school level pursuant to RSA 193-A, to be eligible to enroll in a course at any regional community-technical college campus at 1/2 of the existing tuition rate.
  • 2/15/06 Senate Education Committee voted 5-0 Inexpedient to Legislate
    Comment: Committee wants to keep tuition down for ALL students
  • 2/23/06 Senate voted to concur with the report.
Early childhood 2/21/05 No tracked bills in this category have yet been voted ITL.
School improvement programs 4/21/06
HB 1314 - relative to an adult roles and responsibilities curriculum * Indirect impact - expectations may be set for curriculum content of home education programs.
  • 2/23/06 House Education Committee voted 8-7 Inexpedient to Legislate (see reports)
  • 3/21/06 House defeated the bill on a vote of 216-121
HB 1368 - requiring elementary school instruction in proverbs. * Indirect impact - expectations may be set for curriculum content of home education programs.
  • 1/20/06 House Education Committee voted 14-0 Inexpedient to Legislate (see report)
  • 2/01/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote
School accountability 2/21/06 No bills tracked in this category.
School funding 2/21/06 No bills tracked in this category.
Claremont 3/09/06
HB 1178 - relative to the definition of an adequate education * This bill redefines the curriculum content of an adequate education. This can have an indirect impact on expectations of home education program content.
  • 2/10/06 House Education Committee voted 10-6 Inexpedient to Legislate (see reports)
  • 2/22/06 House concurred with the majority report on a voice vote
HB 1323 - relative to the statement of purpose in the statewide education improvement and assessment program. * Minor change to purpose statement.
  • 2/15/06 House Education Committed voted 12-1 Inexpedient to Legislate (see reports)
  • 2/22/06 House concurred with the majority report on a voice vote
HB 1695 - defining an adequate education and relative to calculating the cost of an adequate education and adequate education grants. * Since the determination of adequate education grants relies more heavily on actual costs incurred by the district and less on pupil enrollment, there may be less disincentive to permit homeschooled students access.
  • 2/08/06 House Education Committee voted 17-0 Inexpedient to Legislate (see report)
  • 2/15/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote
Teacher certification 1/15/06 No known bills.
Child Protection Act, DCYF, custody 2/21/06 No tracked bills in this category have yet been voted ITL.
Parental rights 2/21/06
HB 1557 - establishing babysitter age guidelines and children home alone guidelines * Home educated children are supervised by their parents for longer periods of time than children in school. Home educators are often more closely scrutinized for child-rearing practices than other populations.
  • 1/24/06 House Children and Family Law Committee voted 12-1 Inexpedient to Legislate (see report)
  • 2/15/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote
Miscellaneous 2/21/06
HB 1414 - relative to the protection of personal information by mandatory notice of security breach * Could possibly apply to information provided by parent to meet requirements of the home education law.
  • 2/09/06 House Commerce Committee voted 15-0 Inexpedient to Legislate (see report)
  • 2/15/06 House concurred with the report on a voice vote

Bills that have been vetoed

No bills have yet been vetoed.

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