Revision: Sept. 28, 2022, 10:44 a.m.
HB 1131 - FINAL VERSION
15Mar2022... 0998h
04/28/2022 1688s
2022 SESSION
22-2188
10/08
HOUSE BILL 1131
AN ACT relative to facial covering policies for schools.
SPONSORS: Rep. Weyler, Rock. 13; Rep. Blasek, Hills. 21
COMMITTEE: Education
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill prohibits school boards and other public education agencies from adopting, enforcing, or implementing a policy that requires students or members of the public to wear a facial covering.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
15Mar2022... 0998h
04/28/2022 1688s 22-2188
10/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two
AN ACT relative to facial covering policies for schools.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Schools; Instruction of Pupils; Facial Coverings Policy. Amend RSA 189 by inserting after section 10 the following new section:
189:10-a Facial Covering Policy for Schools. The school board of a school district or the chief executive officer of a chartered public school or public academy shall not adopt, enforce, or implement a policy that requires students or members of the public to wear a facial covering for any purpose while on the school’s property unless the facial covering is necessary for a specific extracurricular or instructional purpose, or is required by some other section of the law. In this section, “facial covering” means any item worn on the face which covers a student’s mouth, nose, or both. This provision shall not prohibit any public school board or governing person or body of a school from requiring participating students to wear athletic gear intended to protect against concussive or similar sports-related physical damage, or to wear protective equipment while handling chemicals, fire, or other similar hazardous elements for scientific or similar educational purposes.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Vetoed May 20, 2022
SUSTAINED September 15, 2022