1 New Section; School Attendance; Committee to Study the Incidence of Suspensions and Expulsions of Children in Middle and High Schools. Amend RSA 193 by inserting after section 13 the following new section:

193:13-a Committee to Study the Incidence of Suspensions and Expulsions of Children in Middle and High Schools.

I. There is established a committee to study the incidence of suspensions and expulsions of children in middle and high schools. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

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

(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(c) One member of the New Hampshire School Boards Association, appointed by the association.

(d) One member of the New Hampshire School Administrators Association, appointed by the association.

(e) One member of the New Hampshire Special Education Administrators Association, appointed by the association.

(f) One person representing Child and Family Services of New Hampshire with experience representing the interests of children, appointed by that organization.

(g) One person representing New Hampshire Legal Assistance with experience representing the legal interests of juveniles, appointed by that organization.

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

III. The committee shall:

(a) Review suspension and expulsion data from the department of education for children in middle and high school for the 2012 through 2016 school years.

(b) Review suspension and expulsion data from the department of education for children in licensed preschools from 2012 through 2015.

(c) Identify the incidence, frequency, and reasons for suspensions and expulsions by school district.

(d) Acquire copies of school district disciplinary policies, if possible, for children in middle and high schools.

(e) Review the use of so-called "laddered discipline," responsive education, and positive behavioral intervention and supports (PBIS) by New Hampshire schools and determine the effectiveness of these methods and whether they would be effective in other districts.

(f) Identify resources available to implement the methods stated in subparagraph (e).

(g) Determine how schools in districts with low per capita exclusionary discipline practices can assist those districts with higher per capita exclusionary discipline practices.

(h) Solicit testimony from any individual or organization with information or expertise relevant to the committee's study.

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

V. The committee shall submit an interim report on or before November 1, 2017, and a final report on or before November 1, 2018, containing 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.

2 Repeal. RSA 193:13-a, relative to the committee to study the incidence of suspensions and expulsions of children in middle and high schools, is repealed.

3 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2018.

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

1 New Section; School Attendance; Committee to Study the Incidence of Suspensions and Expulsions of Children in Middle and High Schools. Amend RSA 193 by inserting after section 13 the following new section:

193:13-a Committee to Study the Incidence of Suspensions and Expulsions of Children in Middle and High Schools.

I. There is established a committee to study the incidence of suspensions and expulsions of children in middle and high schools. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

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

(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(c) One member of the New Hampshire School Boards Association, appointed by the association.

(d) One member of the New Hampshire School Administrators Association, appointed by the association.

(e) One member of the New Hampshire Special Education Administrators Association, appointed by the association.

(f) One person representing Child and Family Services of New Hampshire with experience representing the interests of children, appointed by that organization.

(g) One person representing New Hampshire Legal Assistance with experience representing the legal interests of juveniles, appointed by that organization.

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

III. The committee shall:

(a) Review suspension and expulsion data from the department of education for children in middle and high school for the 2012 through 2016 school years.

(b) Review suspension and expulsion data from the department of education for children in licensed preschools from 2012 through 2015.

(c) Identify the incidence, frequency, and reasons for suspensions and expulsions by school district.

(d) Acquire copies of school district disciplinary policies, if possible, for children in middle and high schools.

(e) Review the use of so-called "laddered discipline," responsive education, and positive behavioral intervention and supports (PBIS) by New Hampshire schools and determine the effectiveness of these methods and whether they would be effective in other districts.

(f) Identify resources available to implement the methods stated in subparagraph (e).

(g) Determine how schools in districts with low per capita exclusionary discipline practices can assist those districts with higher per capita exclusionary discipline practices.

(h) Solicit testimony from any individual or organization with information or expertise relevant to the committee's study.

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

V. The committee shall submit an interim report on or before November 1, 2017, and a final report on or before November 1, 2018, containing 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.

2 Repeal. RSA 193:13-a, relative to the committee to study the incidence of suspensions and expulsions of children in middle and high schools, is repealed.

3 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2018.

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