HB 1230-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
31jan02...2231h
2001 SESSION
04/09
HOUSE BILL 1230-FN
AN ACT authorizing the commissioner of the department of education to expend funds for special education advocacy.
This bill authorizes the commissioner of the department of education to contract with a nonprofit agency for the provision of special education advocacy services to parents or legal guardians of children with educational disabilities.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
31jan02...2231h
01-2028
04/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand One
AN ACT authorizing the commissioner of the department of education to expend funds for special education advocacy.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Duties of Commissioner. Amend RSA 21-N:4 by inserting after paragraph X the following new paragraph:
XI. Contract with a nonprofit agency which provides special education advocacy services to parents and legal guardians of children with educational disabilities in New Hampshire with regard to any alleged violations of rights under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, RSA 186-C, and any other applicable federal and state education statutes. If such agencies are unable to enter into a contract, the contract shall be put out to competitive bid. The contract shall require the provision of advocacy services by qualified staff including the power and duty to petition for, initiate, appear, or intervene on behalf of, the parent or legal guardian of an educationally disabled child in any proceeding concerning special education decisions rendered by a local school board, the state board of education, or before any board, commission, agency, court, or regulatory body in which the interests of the parents or legal guardians of an educationally disabled child are involved. The contract shall provide for the advice and support of parents and legal guardians on such matters where appropriate.
2 Contract Funding. Any contract for special education advocacy services entered into pursuant to this act shall provide for the equivalent of 2 full-time special education advocates and shall cover incidental overhead and administrative costs not to exceed $105,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003 and $105,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004.
3 Department of Education; Special Education Funds. Any funding for special education advocacy services pursuant to this act shall be provided from special education funds appropriated to the department of education.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
01-2028
9/17/01
HB 1230-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT establishing the office of the special education advocate.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Education indicates this bill will increase state expenditures by $108,446 in FY 2003 and $108,855 in FY 2004. There will be no fiscal impact on state, county and local revenue or county and local expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department states the following costs will result from the implementation of this bill. The Department used the staffing of the special education office to estimate the cost of this bill and assumed federal funds would be used to pay all expenses.
FY 2003 FY 2004
Advocate - Education Consultant, labor grade 26 $ 38,610 $ 41,980
Administrative Assistant - Program Assistant, labor grade 12 21,528 23,261
Benefits at 30% 18,041 19,572
Equipment 8,400 1,500
Operating Expenses 11,867 12,542
Consultants 10,000 10,000
Total $108,446 $108,855
The Department did not estimate the fiscal impact beyond FY 2004.