SB 515 - AS INTRODUCED
2020 SESSION
20-2961
06/08
SENATE BILL 515
AN ACT relative to a discrimination prevention policy in schools.
SPONSORS: Sen. French, Dist 7; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Starr, Dist 1; Sen. Levesque, Dist 12; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Kahn, Dist 10; Sen. Morse, Dist 22; Rep. St. Clair, Belk. 9
COMMITTEE: Education and Workforce Development
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes requirements for school district discrimination prevention policies.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20-2961
06/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty
AN ACT relative to a discrimination prevention policy in schools.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Discrimination in Public Schools; Prevention Policy Required; Provisions. Amend RSA 193:39 to read as follows:
193:39 Discrimination Prevention Policy Required.
I. Each school district and chartered public school shall develop a policy that guides the development and implementation of a coordinated plan to prevent, assess the presence of, intervene in, and respond to incidents of discrimination on the basis of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, marital status, familial status, disability, religion, national origin, or any other classes protected under RSA 354-A. The policy shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following provisions:
(a) Training faculty, staff, and school volunteers in state and federal discrimination laws, identifying signs and acts of discrimination, methods of addressing discrimination, and resources available within the school and school district.
(b) Educating students in the importance of a discrimination-free learning environment, recognizing the signs of discrimination against oneself and others, and providing strategies for seeking help for oneself or others, including strategies for engaging school resources.
(c) Identifying within the school district the person or persons who serve as the point of contact when a student, faculty member, or staff member is believed to be discriminated against, or when a faculty member or staff member is believed to be engaging in discrimination.
II. Each school district and chartered public school shall provide training, to begin within 9 months of the effective date of this section, for faculty, staff, and school volunteers in state and federal discrimination laws, identifying signs and acts of discrimination, methods of addressing discrimination, and resources available within the school and school district. Training shall occur within the first year for newly hired faculty and staff, and every 3 years thereafter. The training shall be accomplished within the framework of existing in-service training programs or offered as part of ongoing professional development activities.
III. School discrimination prevention policies required under paragraph I and the training required under paragraph II shall be evidence-based and adhere to best practices.
IV. Nothing in this section shall require the inclusion of any specific curriculum, textbook, or other material designed to address the topic of discrimination prevention in any program or activity conducted by a school district or chartered public school.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 18, 2020 | Senate | Hearing |
| March 19, 2020 | Senate | Floor Vote |
June 16, 2020: Pending Motion Inexpedient to Legislate; 06/16/2020; SJ 8
June 16, 2020: Placed on Laid on Table Consent List and Laid on Table, MA, VV; 06/16/2020; SJ 8
March 19, 2020: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate SC 11
Feb. 18, 2020: Hearing: 02/18/2020, Room 103, LOB, 09:00 am; SC 6
Jan. 8, 2020: To Be Introduced 01/08/2020 and Referred to Education and Workforce Development; SJ 1