Bill Text: NH HB1450 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Requiring the university system of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire to further work toward implementing comprehensive higher education alignment strategies and findings identified in the governors public higher education task force report.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-05-22 - Ought to Pass: Motion Adopted, Voice Vote; OT3rdg; 05/22/2024; Senate Journal 14 [HB1450 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2024-HB1450-Enrolled.html
HB 1450 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
28Mar2024... 0964h
2024 SESSION
24-2633
05/10
HOUSE BILL 1450
SPONSORS: Rep. Ladd, Graf. 5; Sen. Gray, Dist 6
COMMITTEE: Education
-----------------------------------------------------------------
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill directs the university system of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire to work collaboratively toward implementation of the comprehensive higher education alignment strategies identified in the report of the public higher education task force, established in Executive Order 2023-06.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
28Mar2024... 0964h 24-2633
05/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Public Higher Education Strategic Alignment. Amend RSA 187-A by inserting after section 28-d the following new section:
187-A:28-e Public Higher Education Strategic Alignment.
The university system of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire shall consider and work collaboratively toward the implementation of strategies identified in the report of the public higher education task force, established by Executive Order 2023-06, as necessary to successfully meet projected demands for New Hampshire higher education.
I. The university system of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire shall, in accordance with findings identified in the public higher education task force report, develop and implement system-wide higher education alignment strategies to:
(a) Increase opportunities to raise education attainment levels, in part to meet workforce needs;
(b) Improve accessibility and compatibility for New Hampshire students;
(c) Minimize duplication of academic programs as appropriate while optimizing access for students;
(d) Create potential for economies of scale and synergy;
(e) Enhance regional growth and development;
(f) Streamline administrative costs and obligations; and
(g) Continue collaborative work establishing curricular pathways for the transfer of program and degree credit across institutions in the 2 systems pursuant to RSA 187-A:16-c and RSA 188-F:6-a.
II. The board of trustees of the university system of New Hampshire and the board of trustees of the community college system of New Hampshire are encouraged to collaboratively develop and implement pilot projects to align administrative functions under guidance, monitoring, and legislative oversight of the public higher education study committee established pursuant to RSA 187-A:28-a. The public higher education study shall include technical support from the director of higher education, New Hampshire department of education, who shall serve as a non-voting committee member.
III. The chancellors of the university system of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire shall submit joint quarterly progress reports, addressing higher education strategic alignment outcomes, to the public higher education study committee beginning with the calendar quarter ending June 30, 2024, or as requested by the committee. Beginning November 1, 2024, and each November 1 thereafter, the chancellors shall submit an annual report regarding implementation of comprehensive higher education alignment strategies and findings to the governor and council, the senate finance and education committees, the house finance and education committees, the board of trustees of the university system of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire, and the commissioner of the department of education.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
