HB 0679

HB 679 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

AN ACT establishing a commission to examine models of out-of-school care for children in kindergarten through grade 12.

SPONSORS: Rep. Potter, Merr 24; Rep. M. Fuller Clark, Rock 36; Sen. Wheeler, Dist 21

This bill establishes a commission to examine existing and proposed models of out-of-school care for children in kindergarten through grade 12.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

AN ACT establishing a commission to examine models of out-of-school care for children in kindergarten through grade 12.

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

1 Purpose. Out-of-school care programs for school children provide a supervised setting for positive social interaction and an opportunity to complete homework. In addition, out-of-school programs may reduce substance abuse and risky or delinquent behavior among children.

2 Commission Established. There is established a commission to examine a variety of out-of-school care programs for children in kindergarten through grade 12 (primary, middle, and high school age children).

(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house, one of whom shall be a member of the education committee, one of whom shall be a member of the criminal justice and public safety committee, and one of whom shall be a member of the health, human services and elderly affairs committee.

(b) Three members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, one of whom shall be a member of the education committee, one of whom shall be a member of the judiciary committee, and one of whom shall be a member of the public institutions, health and human services committee.

(d) The chair of the New Hampshire School Administrator's Association or designee.

(f) A representative of the department of education, appointed by the commissioner of the department of education.

(g) Representatives of the bureaus of child care development and of juvenile justice, division of children youth and families, appointed by the commissioner of the department of health and human services.

(h) Three parents of children in kindergarten through grade 12, from different parts of the state, appointed by the governor.

(j) A member of the New Hampshire Child Advocacy Network, specializing in the prevention of youth crime, appointed by the governor.

(k) A representative of a statewide organization whose focus is out-of-school programming for school age children, appointed by the governor.

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

I. Examine existing out-of-school programs in New Hampshire and other states relevant to the expansion of quality programming in New Hampshire.

II. Determine the benefits and drawbacks of methods to increase access to high quality programs for New Hampshire children in kindergarten through grade 12.

III. Identify potential funding sources, including public/private partnerships, grant opportunities available from the departments of education and health and human services, and any other state or federal funds that could be accessed to support out-of-school care programs in this state.

IV. By November 1, 2001, propose outlines for programs for introduction in the 2002 session.

V. By November 1, 2002, issue a final report and recommendations on assigned duties.

5 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first-named house member shall call the first meeting of the commission, to be held within 90 days of the effective date of this section. Five members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

6 Meetings. The commission shall meet at least quarterly, and may meet more often at the call of the chair, or at the request of a majority of the members directed to the chair.

I. The commission shall report its findings and any proposed legislation for programs to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2001.

II. The commission shall file its final report and recommendations for proposed legislation with the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2002.