21feb02...2402h

04/16/02 3476s

2002 SESSION

01-2049

04/01

HOUSE BILL 1281

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a commission to study public educational choice initiatives.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

21feb02...2402h

04/16/02 3476s

01-2049

04/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Two

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

203:1 Commission Established. There is established a commission to study public educational choice initiatives and to develop recommendations on this matter.

203:2 Membership and Compensation.

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

(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house.

(b) Three members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

II. The commission shall consist of the following non-voting members:

(a) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.

(b) One representative from the New Hampshire School Administrators Association, appointed by the executive director or designee.

(c) One member from the New Hampshire School Boards Association, appointed by the president or designee.

(d) One member from the National Education Association-New Hampshire, appointed by the president of that organization.

(e) The administrator of the bureau of school approval, department of education, or designee, appointed by the commissioner of the department of education.

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

203:3 Duties. The commission shall consider any relevant prior legislative reports in developing the focus of the study. In addition, the commission shall study:

I. The feasibility of various public school choice initiatives in New Hampshire including, but not limited to, charter schools, open enrollment schools, magnet schools, and alternative public schools.

II. Whether such initiatives can be implemented within the existing framework of the New Hampshire public educational system.

III. The effect of public school choice programs on children, schools, and communities in New Hampshire.

IV. Any other issue deemed relevant to its purpose.

203:4 Chairperson; Quorum. The legislative members of the study commission shall elect a legislative 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. Three legislative members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

203:5 Report. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation 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, 2002.

203:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Approved: May 15, 2002)

(Effective Date: May 15, 2002)