Bill Text: NH HB1561 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relative to qualifications for student eligibility in the education freedom accounts program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-08 - Reconsider (Rep. Weber): Motion Failed Regular Calendar 189-192 02/08/2024 House Journal 4 P. 21 [HB1561 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2024-HB1561-Introduced.html

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HB 1561-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2024 SESSION

24-2010

02/08

 

HOUSE BILL 1561-FN

 

AN ACT relative to qualifications for student eligibility in the education freedom accounts program.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Sweeney, Rock. 25; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2; Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 29

 

COMMITTEE: Education

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill expands the definition of who is an eligible student qualifying under the education freedom accounts program.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

24-2010

02/08

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

 

AN ACT relative to qualifications for student eligibility in the education freedom accounts program.

 

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

 

1  Education Freedom Account Program; Definitions; Eligible Students.  RSA 194-F:1, VI is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

VI. “Eligible student” means a resident of this state who is eligible to enroll in a public elementary or secondary school and meets one or more of the following conditions:

(a)  Whose annual household income at the time the student applies for the program is less than or equal to 350 percent of the federal poverty guidelines as updated annually in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services under 42 U.S.C. section 9902(2).  No income threshold need be met in subsequent years, provided the student otherwise qualifies.  Students in the special school district within the department of corrections established in RSA 194:60 shall not be eligible students.

(b)  Who is concerned that attending school could lead to the spread of contagious diseases such as COVID-19, the common cold, the seasonal Flu, pneumonia, or other similar diseases.

(c)  Who is a persistently bullied student.  “Persistently bullied student” means a pupil that has been a victim of 3 or more bullying incidences as defined by RSA 193-F:3.

(d)  Who identifies as lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, or non-binary.

(e)  Who have tested in the bottom 25th percentile in state standardized testing during the most recent academic year.

(f)  Who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder by a licensed healthcare provider.

(g)  Who have been diagnosed with a mental health illness by a licensed healthcare provider.

(h)  Who lives in a district which exceeds PFAS drinking water standards, as established by the department of environmental services.

(i)  Who is a student who lives within the geographic boundaries of a school which has been identified by the department of education as scoring within the bottom 10th percentile in standardized testing.

(j)  Whose current district guidance counselor determines it is in the best interest of the student.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBA

24-2010

12/11/23

 

HB 1561-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to qualifications for student eligibility in the education freedom accounts program.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to complete a fiscal note for this bill, as introduced, as it is awaiting information from the Department of Education.   The Department of Education was initially contacted on 09/28/23 for a fiscal note worksheet, with follow-up contact made on 11/30/23.  When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the House Clerk's Office.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Education