Bill Text: NH HB1534 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relative to establishing a program to earn tuition credits for state of New Hampshire higher education institutions through community service.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2024-09-11 - Executive Session: 10/03/2024 10:30 am Legislative Office Building 205-207 [HB1534 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2024-HB1534-Introduced.html
HB 1534-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2024 SESSION
24-2551
05/10
HOUSE BILL 1534-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Schultz, Merr. 29
COMMITTEE: Education
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a program in the department of education for eligible students to earn tuition credits at state higher education institutions through community service.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2551
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; Tuition Credits for State of New Hampshire Higher Education Institutions Through Community Service. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 8-d the following new section:
21-N:8-e Tuition Credits for State of New Hampshire Higher Education Institutions Through Community Service.
I. The department of education shall establish and administer a program to provide tuition credits for state institutions of higher education earned through community service. The program, known as the "triple win program", shall provide tuition credits to eligible high school students and post-secondary education students. The credits may be used for tuition at participating institutions of higher education. Tuition credits shall be distributed based on available funding in accordance with this section and rules adopted thereunder.
II. The program shall be available to all high school and post-secondary education students attending public educational institutions in New Hampshire. To be eligible for a tuition credit, the student must be attending a public New Hampshire high school or be enrolled in a public institution of higher education in New Hampshire.
III. A student who volunteers 100 hours in one calendar year at an approved volunteer site in New Hampshire, such as a nursing home, food bank, or homeless shelter, shall be eligible for a tuition credit of $2,500 a year. An eligible student may receive a maximum of 8 tuition credits, over an 8 year period, totaling $20,000 in tuition credits.
IV. Tuition credits shall not be available to high school students attending a public university outside of New Hampshire or students attending private colleges or private universities. High school students attending private high schools or preparatory schools shall not be eligible.
V. There is established in the treasury a nonlapsing fund known as the triple win fund, which shall be kept separate and distinct from all other funds. The triple win fund shall be continually appropriated to the department of education for the purpose of distributing tuition credits in accordance with this section. In additional to general fund appropriations, the commissioner of the department of education may accept any gifts, grants, donations, or other funding from any source for deposit in fund. Each fiscal year, the commissioner shall disburse funds pursuant to this section up to the limit of available funds.
VI. The commissioner of the department of education shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to approved volunteer sites, participating schools and institutions of higher education, student eligibility criteria, and the distribution of tuition credits. The department shall also develop forms, in collaboration the participating organizations and educational institutions, to document program participation and volunteer service.
2 New Subparagraph; Dedicated Fund; Triple Win Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (394) the following new paragraph:
(395) Moneys deposited in the triple win fund under RSA 21-N:8-e.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
24-2551
11/29/23
HB 1534-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
|
| |||||
Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable - See Methodology Below | ||||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund "Triple Win Fund" | |||||
Appropriations | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] No • Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] No | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill creates a program, to be administered by the Department of Education, to provide tuition credits of $2,500 to students who perform community service to be used at New Hampshire public postsecondary institutions. The Department is unable to estimate this bill’s cost, however, has provided the following to illustrate a potential cost:
- There are 52,246 NH public/charter high school students as of 10/1/2023.
- Should 20% take advantage of the program, that would be approximately 10,000 students.
- The cost, if each student only completed 100 hours of service annually, would be $25,000,000 per year.
The Department estimates it would need approximately one (1) staff member per every 3,000 applicants to process and track the student records related to the program. The Department states education consultant I (labor grade 26, starting step 5) positions would be used, with a total estimated annual cost of approximately $110,000 per position. This bill contains neither appropriation nor authorization for new personnel. This bill also creates a new dedicated fund for program purposes, however, there is no appropriation nor funding source identified.
This bill should have no significant impact on revenues or expenditures of the Community College System of New Hampshire or University System of New Hampshire.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education, Community College System of New Hampshire, and University System of New Hampshire
