CHAPTER 158
HB 581 - FINAL VERSION
7Apr2021... 0823h
2021 SESSION
21-0702
06/05
HOUSE BILL 581
SPONSORS: Rep. Cordelli, Carr. 4; Rep. Verville, Rock. 2; Rep. Thomas, Rock. 5; Rep. Spillane, Rock. 2; Rep. McLean, Hills. 44; Rep. Rouillard, Hills. 6; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17
COMMITTEE: Education
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill provides that the burden of proving the appropriateness of a child's special education placement or program is on the school district or other public agency. This bill also establishes a committee to study special education dispute resolution options and the burden of proof in due process hearings conducted by the department of education.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
7Apr2021... 0823h 21-0702
06/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
158:1 New Paragraph; Special Education; Due Process Hearing; Burden of Proof. Amend RSA 186-C:16-b by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:
III-a. In all hearings the school district shall have the burden of proof, including the burden of persuasion and production, of the appropriateness of the child's program or placement, or of the program or placement proposed by the public agency. This burden shall be met by a preponderance of the evidence.
158:2 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study special education dispute resolution options and the burden of proof in due process hearings conducted by the department of education.
158:3 Membership and Compensation.
I. 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.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
158:4 Duties. The committee shall:
I. Examine "child find" IDEA requirements.
II. Examine the IEP process under IDEA including team participants, roles, and responsibilities, time frames, and parental consent.
III. Familiarize itself with federal IDEA and department of education options for dispute resolution in special education cases.
IV. Examine department and other agency supports for parents including information for parents on procedural safeguards and available remedies.
V. Examine department of education monitoring of:
(a) District compliance with IDEA, state law and rules.
(b) IDEA parental complaints leading to state administrative hearings.
VI. Opportunities and best practices for dispute resolution processes at the “early stages.”
VII. Consult with parents, other state agencies, and experts, as needed.
VIII. Develop findings and recommendations based upon federal IDEA, parental and expert input, and best practices from districts as well as other states.
158:5 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study 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. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
158:6 Report. The committee 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, 2021.
158:7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: July 29, 2021
Effective Date: July 29, 2021
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| March 2, 2021 | House | Hearing |
| March 11, 2021 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| April 13, 2021 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 13, 2021 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 13, 2021 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 13, 2021 | Senate | Floor Vote |
Aug. 3, 2021: Signed by Governor Sununu 07/29/2021; Chapter 158; Eff: 07/29/2021
July 29, 2021: Signed by Governor Sununu 07/29/2021; Chapter 158; Eff: 07/29/2021
June 11, 2021: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/10/2021 HJ 10 P. 21
June 10, 2021: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/10/2021 HJ 10 P. 21
June 11, 2021: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/10/2021); SJ 19
June 10, 2021: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/10/2021); SJ 19
May 13, 2021: Ought to Pass: RC 24Y-0N, MA; OT3rdg; 05/13/2021; SJ 15
May 13, 2021: Ought to Pass: RC 24Y-0N, MA; OT3rdg; 05/13/2021; SJ 15
May 4, 2021: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/13/2021; SC 23
May 13, 2021: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/13/2021; SC 23
April 13, 2021: Remote Hearing: 04/13/2021, 09:20 am; Links to join the hearing can be found in the Senate Calendar; SC 19
April 7, 2021: Remote Hearing: 04/13/2021, 09:20 am; Links to join the hearing can be found in the Senate Calendar; SC 19
April 7, 2021: Introduced 04/01/2021 and Referred to Education; SJ 11
April 1, 2021: Introduced 04/01/2021 and Referred to Education; SJ 11
April 7, 2021: Reconsider (Rep. Osborne): MF VV 04/07/2021 HJ 5 P. 50
April 7, 2021: Reconsider (Rep. Osborne): MF VV 04/07/2021 HJ 5 P. 50
April 7, 2021: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2021-0823h: MA VV 04/07/2021 HJ 5 P. 10
April 7, 2021: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2021-0823h: MA VV 04/07/2021 HJ 5 P. 10
April 7, 2021: Amendment # 2021-0823h: AA VV 04/07/2021 HJ 5 P. 10
April 7, 2021: Amendment # 2021-0823h: AA VV 04/07/2021 HJ 5 P. 10
March 24, 2021: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2021-0823h (Vote 20-0; CC) HC 18 P. 8
: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2021-0823h (Vote 20-0; CC) HC 18 P. 8
March 11, 2021: Executive Session: 03/11/2021 09:00 am Members of the public may attend using the following link: To join the webinar: https://www.zoom.us/j/95090800832
March 2, 2021: Public Hearing: 03/02/2021 02:30 pm Members of the public may attend using the following link: To join the webinar: https://www.zoom.us/j/97910276071 / Executive session on pending legislation may be held throughout the day (time permitting) from the time the committee is initially convened.
Jan. 12, 2021: Introduced (in recess of) 01/06/2021 and referred to Education HJ 2 P. 54
Jan. 6, 2021: Introduced (in recess of) 01/06/2021 and referred to Education HJ 2 P. 54