Revision: March 11, 2021, 9:28 a.m.
Senate Education
March 9, 2021
2021-0740s
06/10
Amendment to SB 147-FN
Amend PART I of the bill by replacing section 1 with the following:
1 New Section; Graduation Requirements; Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Amend RSA 193 by inserting after section 26 the following new section:
193:26-a Graduation Requirements; Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
I. Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, each student who is at least 18 years of age or legally emancipated, who is otherwise eligible to graduate from high school, or the parent of such a student who is under the age of 18 years, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma from a public high school, shall either:
(a) File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid with the United States Department of Education; or
(b) File a waiver on a form created by the state board of education with the student's school district indicating that the parent or guardian or, if applicable, the student, understands what the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is and has chosen not to file an application
II. Each school district with a high school shall provide to each high school student and, if applicable, his or her parent or guardian, any support or assistance necessary to comply with paragraph I. A school district shall award a high school diploma to a student who is unable to meet the requirements of paragraph I due to extenuating circumstances, as determined by the school district, if the student has met all other graduation requirements and the principal attests that the school district has made a good faith effort to assist the student or, if applicable, his or her parent or guardian in filing an application or a waiver.
Amend the bill by replacing PART II with the following:
PART II
Relative to a central registry in the department of education to maintain records
of founded reports of abuse and neglect.
1 Department of Education; Rulemaking. Amend RSA 21-N:9, II(s) to read as follows:
(s) License standards for educational personnel, to include the establishment and implementation of a secure system for conducting criminal background checks pursuant to RSA 189:13-a for all first-time applicants listed in this section, the establishment and implementation of a secure system for accessing findings of abuse for individuals on the central registry pursuant to RSA 169-C:35, and educator certification fees for granting licenses to educational personnel, including teachers, paraprofessionals, superintendents, assistant superintendents, special education administrators, business administrators, principals, vocational directors, coordinators of comprehensive health education and services, directors of pupil personnel services, guidance directors, guidance counselors, school psychologists, associate school psychologists, speech-language specialists, social workers, health educators, physical education teachers, consumer and family science teachers, elementary teachers, specialists in assessment of intellectual functioning, school bus drivers and transportation monitors, media supervisors, media generalists, and master teachers as authorized by RSA 186:8 and RSA 186:11, X, professional licenses including beginning educator licenses, experienced educator licenses, and intern authorizations, and other classifications of educators, administrators, specialists, and paraprofessionals necessary to address educational needs as determined by the state board upon the recommendation of the professional standards board pursuant to RSA 186:60.
2 Reporting; Central Registry. Amend RSA 169-C:35, I to read as follows:
I. There shall be established a state registry for the purpose of maintaining a record of founded reports of abuse and neglect. The registry shall be confidential and subject to rules on access established by the commissioner of the department under RSA 541-A. The commissioner of the department shall allow the credentialing bureau of the department of education access to the records of applicants for purposes of RSA 21-N:9, II(s) and in accordance with RSA 189:13-c.
3 New Paragraphs; Central Registry. Amend RSA 169-C:35 by inserting after paragraph VII the following new paragraphs:
VIII. Upon receipt of a written request from the department of education, credentialing bureau, the department shall provide the department of education with a copy of the notice of finding or court order establishing the finding and resulting individual’s name being placed on the central registry.
IX. The department of education shall maintain the confidentiality of all division for children, youth, and families records.
4 New Section; Teacher Credentialing Criminal History Records Check. Amend RSA 189 by inserting after section 13-b the following new section:
189:13-c Credentialing Applicant State Registry Check.
I. In this subdivision, “credentialing applicant” means a first-time applicant for a New Hampshire teaching credential.
II. The department shall complete a central registry check as established in RSA 169-C:35 on each credentialing applicant. The central registry check shall include a check of the department’s central registry of founded reports of child abuse under RSA 169-C:35.
III. By submitting an application for a teaching credential, an applicant is deemed to have consented to have the department of education check his or her name for findings of abuse on the central registry pursuant to RSA 169-C:35.
IV. Any individual whose name has been submitted for this check who has been the subject of finding of abuse, shall be denied a teaching credential by the department.
V. The department shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, governing the rights of a credentialing applicant and the ability to appeal a denial of a teaching credential pursuant to a founded report of child abuse under RSA 169-C:35.
5 Effective Date. Part II of this act shall take effect January 1, 2022.
Amend PART III of the bill by replacing section 1 with the following:
1 New Section; Pupils Transported in a Contract Carrier. Amend RSA 189 by inserting after section 6-d the following new section:
189:6-e Pupils Transported in a Contract Carrier.
I. A school district may contract with a contract carrier of passengers, as defined by RSA 376:2, VII, that is designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the operator, to transport pupils to or from school activities. The motor vehicle used by the contract carrier of passengers shall bear a valid state inspection sticker, comply with applicable provisions of RSA 376, and be operated by a driver who holds a valid commercial driver's license to operate that vehicle.
II. In this section, "school activities" shall include, but is not limited to, sporting events, intramural events, events associated with student clubs or organizations, job training programs, field trips, and special education transition services. "School activities" shall not include transportation between home and school.
III. Contract carriers of passengers shall ensure that motor vehicle operators transporting 16 or more passengers for a school activity comply with requirements for training and criminal history record checks required in RSA 189:13-a, XII and RSA 189:13-b.