Struck = removed from the bill ยท
added = the amendment's new text.
HB 431 - AS INTRODUCED SESSION 25-0471 02/08 HOUSE BILL 431 AN ACT establishing a commission to review draft rules related to minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards developed by the department of education.
SPONSORS:
Damon,Cordelli, Sull.Carr.
8;7 March 4, 2025 2025-0724h /05 Amendment to HB 431 Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
Rep.3 AN ACT establishing a commission to study the costs of special education.
Cornell,5 Hills.Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following:
22;7 1 New Section;
Rep.Commission Established;
Fellows,Special Graf.Education Costs.Amend RSA 186-C by inserting after section 1 the following new section:
8;186-C:1-a Commission to Study Costs of Special Education Established.
Rep.I.
N.There is established a commission to explore the costs of special education within public schools to school districts based on annual reporting, and to study specific revenue sources for the state to provide greater funding to reduce the reliance on local property taxes.
Germana,II. Ches.
15;Notwithstanding RSA 14:49, the members of the commission shall be as follows:
Rep.(a) Five members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
M.(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
Hall,(c) Merr.One special education educator, appointed by the New Hampshire Association of Special Education Administrators.
9;(d) The department of education director of special education, or designee.
Rep.(e) The advocate for special education, or designee.
H.(f) One public member, appointed by the chair of the commission.
Howard,(g) Straf.Two special education parent advocates, appointed by the governor.
4;(h) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.
Rep.(i) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
Luneau,III. Merr.
9;The commission shall study the following aspects and costs of special education:
Rep.(a) Student referral rates by IDEA category for special education programs.
Petrigno,(b) Hills.Why students may be labeled "other health impaired." (c) The increase in referrals since the COVID school closures.
43;(d) Whether there are interventions that can be implemented prior to referrals for special education for some IDEA categories.
Rep.Amendment to HB 431 - Page 2 - (e) The cost to provide services which are not "medically necessary" as defined by Medicaid, including services which are required to meet a child's agreed upon goals as part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP) and services required as part of a 504 Plan.
Raymond,(f) Hills.A comparison of the processes, requirements, and services under federal IDEA law, state law, and the rules of the department of education.
5;(g) The local district reporting of special education costs to the department of education.
Rep.(h) The local district costs for out of district placement and if other options were available.
Woodcock,(i) Carr.The analysis and effectiveness of local district developed dispute resolution options.
1;(j) The use of state funds to provide services.
Sen.(k) The Medicaid to Schools program, including:
Altschiller,(1) DistWho 24;uses service reimbursement funds.
Sen.(2) Whether billing is in house or outsourced and its relationship with student data privacy.
Fenton,(3) DistCategories 10;of reimbursement and rates therefor.
Sen.(l) Use of insurance by local districts to contract for legal services.
Long,(m) DistGraduation 20;rates for students with disabilities by type of diploma and age and attendance in adult learning programs.
Sen.IV.
Prentiss,Legislative Distmembers 5of COMMITTEE:the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
EducationV. Policy and Administration โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ ANALYSIS This bill creates a commission to review all drafts of education rules related to minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards.
-The -members -of -the -commission -shall -elect -a -chairperson -and -vice -chairperson -from -among -the -members. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Explanation:
MatterThe addedfirst tomeeting currentof lawthe appearscommission inshall boldbe italics.called by the first named house member.
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.
HB 431 - AS INTRODUCED 25-0471 02/08 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five AN ACT establishing a commission to review draft rules related to minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards developed by the department of education.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subparagraph;
Review Commission Established.
Amend RSA 193-E:2-a, IV by inserting after subparagraph (d) the following new subparagraph:
(e) Pursuant to RSA 193-E:1, II, related to the state's responsibilities in establishing minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards, a commission shall be established to review all drafts of education rules related to minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards developed by the state board of education and New Hampshire department of education prior to submission to the general court, per RSA 541-A.
Minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards shall not be submitted to the state board of education without a completed written review from the commission.The establishment of the commission for minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards shall be the direct responsibility of the commissioner of education or designee.
(1) The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(A) Two members representing the New Hampshire School Administrators Association.
One member shall represent superintendents or assistant superintendents and one member shall represent curriculum, instruction, and assessment administration at a district level.
(B) Three members representing New Hampshire Association of School Principals.
One member shall represent elementary leadership.
One member shall represent middle level leadership.
One member shall represent high school level leadership.
(C) Three members representing New Hampshire Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
These members shall represent direct responsibilities for curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning systems within New Hampshire public schools.
(D) The commissioner of education, or designee.
(E) Three high school teachers, appointed jointly by NEA-NH and AFT-NH.
(F) Three middle school teachers, appointed jointly by NEA-NH and AFT-NH.
(G) Three elementary school teachers, appointed jointly by NEA-NH and AFT- NH.
(H) One member shall represent state or national expertise in the area of competency-based education.
This member shall be nominated by members of the commission.
The commission, by a majority vote, will appoint the competency-based education expert.
HB 431 - AS INTRODUCED - Page 2 - (2) The commission shall recommend language for the minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards that support:
(A) Competency-based education principles for all public schools.
(B) Adequate education requirements as outlined in RSA 193-E:1 and RSA 193- E:2 to maintain high quality minimum standards for public school approval and integrated systems of shared responsibility between state and local government.
(C) Research-and evidence-based practices and strategies related to the content areas articulated in RSA 193-E:2-a, I and RSA 193-E:3-b, I.
(D) School reporting of accountability for the opportunity of an adequate education per RSA 193-E:3-b.
(E) Professional learning opportunities for school administrators and educators.
(F) Implementation of the education rules related to minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards.
(3) 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 member of the commission, excluding the commissioner of education.
TenSeven members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
MembersVI. of the commission shall serve a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years.
(4) The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed changeslegislation to the educationpresident rulesof relatedthe tosenate, the minimumspeaker standardsof for public school approval and state academic standards to the Newhouse Hampshire department of educationrepresentatives, andthe statechairpersons board of educationthe withinsenate 120and dayshouse ofcommittees anywith draftjurisdiction ofover educationeducation, rulesthe and state academicboard standardsof presentededucation, to the commissiongovernor, byand the Newstate Hampshirelibrary. department of education.
AllAn meetingsinitial andreport reports of the commission shall be availablesubmitted toon theor publicbefore asNovember specified1, in2025. RSA 91-A.
(5)A Thefinal commissionreport shall determinebe thesubmitted workon scheduleor andbefore organizationalJuly plan1, to2026. complete the review process within the specified timeline.
This2 mayRepeal. include additional work sessions with various groups of New Hampshire public school educators.
TheRSA commission186-C:1-a, shallrelative maketo allthe decisionscommission related to itsstudy recommendationsspecial usingeducation ais simplerepealed. majority vote of the commission members.
23 Effective Date.
ThisI. act shall take effect 60 days after its.passage
Section 2 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
II.
The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
Amendment to HB 431 - Page 3 - 2025-0724h AMENDED ANALYSIS This bill establishes a commission to study the cost of special education in public schools.