SB 309-FN-A – AS INTRODUCED
2012 SESSION
10/09
SENATE BILL 309-FN-A
AN ACT making appropriations to the university system of New Hampshire and the community college system.
SPONSORS: Sen. Kelly, Dist 10; Sen. Larsen, Dist 15
This bill makes appropriations to the state funds of the university system of New Hampshire and the community college system.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
12-2949
10/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve
AN ACT making appropriations to the university system of New Hampshire and the community college system.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Findings and Purpose. The general court finds and declares that:
I. It is essential to the economic growth of New Hampshire that New Hampshire have an educated and skilled workforce.
II. Nearly 7 in 10 future jobs will require some level of education beyond high school. We rely on the community college system of New Hampshire and the University System of New Hampshire to produce these future workers who will be the drivers of our economy.
III. New Hampshire’s public 2- and 4-year college systems received the largest reduction in state funding in the fiscal year 2012 nationally.
IV. The significant reduction in revenue will have long term effects on the ability of many current and future students to afford a college education and will have a direct impact on our future workforce.
V. The loss of an educated and trained workforce will place New Hampshire in a position that weakens the state’s ability to compete for new businesses and new jobs.
VI. Additional appropriations are necessary to serve the critical purpose of mitigating tuition increases and increasing financial aid for in-state students, and preserving access to postsecondary education opportunities for New Hampshire residents.
2 Appropriation; University System of New Hampshire. The sum of $10,000,000 is hereby appropriated to the state fund of the university system of New Hampshire for the general operating expenses as provided in RSA 187-A:7. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
3 Appropriation; Community College System of New Hampshire. The sum of $5,000,000 is hereby appropriated to the state fund of the community college system of New Hampshire for support and maintenance as provided in RSA 188-F:9. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.
LBAO
12-2949
Revised 01/05/12
SB 309 FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT making appropriations to the university system of New Hampshire and the community college system.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The University System of New Hampshire and Community College System of New Hampshire state this bill will increase state general fund expenditures by $15,000,000 in FY 2013. There will be no fiscal impact on state, county, or local revenue or county or local expenditures.
This bill appropriates, from the general fund, $10,000,000 to the University System of New Hampshire and $5,000,000 to the Community College System of New Hampshire in FY 2013 for the purposes of this act.
METHODOLOGY:
The University System of New Hampshire and Community College System of New Hampshire state this bill appropriates $15,000,000 of general funds, of which $10,000,000 would go to the University System and $5,000,000 would go to the Community College System. The University System states it would most likely utilize the $10,000,000 to lower in-state tuition rates, provide financial aid to low-income state residents, or restore some of the other cost-cutting measures it enacted in the prior year. If the entire appropriation were used to reduce resident tuition rates, the System estimates per-student tuition to decline in FY 2013 by $1,175 at the University of New Hampshire, $644 at Keene State College, $555 at Plymouth State College, and $161 at Granite State College. The University System states the final decision on use of the funds would be the responsibility of the System’s board of trustees. The Community College System states it would utilize the $5,000,000 to restore a portion of the reductions in its operating budget taken during the FY 2012 and FY 2013 budget process.