SB 337-FN – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

SB 337-FN – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

03/13/08 0661s

14May2008… 1658h

2008 SESSION

08-2763

04/09

SENATE BILL 337-FN

AN ACT relative to notification requirements for home education programs, adding legislative members to the home education advisory council, and establishing a commission to examine New Hampshire’s home education statutes.

SPONSORS: Sen. Estabrook, Dist 21; Sen. Foster, Dist 13; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 24; Rep. Rous, Straf 7; Rep. Dunn, Ches 3

COMMITTEE: Education

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill amends the notification requirements for commencing or continuing a home education program, adds legislative members to the home education advisory council, and establishes a commission to examine New Hampshire’s home education statutes.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [~~in brackets and struckthrough.~~]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03/13/08 0661s

14May2008… 1658h

08-2763

04/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Home Education; Notification. Amend RSA 193-A:5 to read as follows:

193-A:5 Notification and Other Procedural Requirements. A parent may provide home education to a child or children at home, subject to the following requirements:

I.(a) Any parent commencing a home education program for a child, for a child who withdraws from a public school, or for a child who moves into a school district shall notify the commissioner of the department of education, resident district superintendent, or principal of a nonpublic school of such within [30] 5 business days of commencing the program.

(b) A parent planning to continue a home education program shall notify the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or principal of a nonpublic school by the first school day according to the school calendar in the child’s resident school district.

2 Home Education Advisory Council; Membership Amended. Amend RSA 193-A:10 to read as follows:

193-A:10 Home Education Advisory Council.

I. There is established the home education advisory council [~~comprising 12 members~~] which shall consist of the following members:

(a) Two members of the house of representatives from the house education committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) One member of the senate from the senate education committee, appointed by the president of the senate.

(c) The following [~~members of the council~~] individuals who shall be appointed by the commissioner of the department of education from persons named as follows:

[~~(a)~~] (1) Six members nominated by home educator associations organized within New Hampshire.

[~~(b)~~] (2) Two members nominated by the commissioner of the department of education, or designee.

[~~(c)~~] (3) One member nominated by the New Hampshire School Administrators Association.

[~~(d)~~] (4) One member nominated by the New Hampshire School Boards Association.

[~~(e)~~] (5) One member nominated by the New Hampshire School Principals Association.

[~~(f)~~] (6) One member nominated by the nonpublic school advisory council established by the state board of education pursuant to RSA 21-N:9, II(f).

II. The duties of the council and the terms of office of [~~its~~] the members appointed under subparagraph I(c) shall be prescribed in accordance with rules proposed by the commissioner of education and adopted by the state board of education pursuant to RSA 541-A. Legislative members of the council shall serve a term which is coterminous with their elected office.

III. The chair of the council shall be elected by the council members from the home educator membership on the council appointed under subparagraph I(c). All vacancies on the council shall be filled in the same manner as that of the original appointment.

IV. Legislative members of the council shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the council.

3 Commission Established. There is established a commission to examine New Hampshire’s home education statutes.

4 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) Two members of the house of representatives from the house education committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) One member of the senate from the senate education committee, appointed by the president of the senate.

(d) One member from the New Hampshire School Administrators Association, appointed by the association.

(e) One member from the home education advisory council established under RSA 193-A:10, appointed by the chair of the council.

(f) One member from the New Hampshire School Boards Association, appointed by the association.

(g) One member from the New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition, appointed by the coalition.

(h) One member from the Christian Home Educators Association of New Hampshire, appointed by the association.

(i) One member from the Catholics United for Home Education, appointed by that organization.

II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

5 Duties. The commission shall examine New Hampshire’s home education statutes.

6 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

7 Report. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2008.

8 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

LBAO

08-2763

Amended 03/17/08

SB 337 FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to home education of children.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant states this bill, as amended by the Senate (Amendment #2008-0661s), will have no fiscal impact on state, county, and local revenue and expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant has determined this bill, as amended, will have no fiscal impact on state, county, and local revenue and expenditures.