Bill Text - HB1140 (2014)

Establishing a commission to study merit-based free tuition for certain residents attending schools in the university system of New Hampshire.


Revision: June 15, 2014, midnight

HB 1140 – AS INTRODUCED

2014 SESSION

14-2259

04/05

HOUSE BILL 1140

AN ACT establishing a commission to study merit-based free tuition for certain residents attending schools in the university system of New Hampshire.

SPONSORS: Rep. S. White, Carr 2; Rep. Chandler, Carr 1

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a commission to study merit-based free tuition for certain residents attending schools in the university system of New Hampshire.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

14-2259

04/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen

AN ACT establishing a commission to study merit-based free tuition for certain residents attending schools in the university system of New Hampshire.

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

1 New Section; University System of New Hampshire; Merit-Based Free Tuition. Amend RSA?187-A by inserting after section 19 the following new section:

187-A:19-a Commission to Study Merit-Based Free Tuition.

I. There is established a commission to study merit-based free tuition for certain residents attending schools in the university system of New Hampshire. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(c) The chancellor of the university system of New Hampshire, or designee.

(d) The president of each school within the university system of New Hampshire, or designee.

(e) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.

(f) One member from the New Hampshire School Boards Association, appointed by that association.

II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

III. The commission shall study awarding merit-based free tuition for those residents attending schools in the university system of New Hampshire who score at the “highly proficient” or equivalent level on the statewide assessment during their senior year in high school. The commission may solicit testimony from any individual or organization with relevant information or expertise. The commission may also study any other issue deemed relevant to its objective.

IV. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Five members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

V. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2014.

2 Repeal. RSA 187-A:19-a, establishing a commission to study merit-based free tuition for certain residents attending schools in the university system of New Hampshire, is repealed.

3 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 2, 2014.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.