Revision: Dec. 30, 2021, 2:43 p.m.
HB 1683-FN-LOCAL - AS INTRODUCED
2022 SESSION
22-2778
10/04
HOUSE BILL 1683-FN-LOCAL
AN ACT repealing the education freedom account program.
SPONSORS: Rep. Luneau, Merr. 10; Rep. Myler, Merr. 10; Rep. Horrigan, Straf. 6; Rep. Lane, Merr. 12
COMMITTEE: Education
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ANALYSIS
This bill repeals the provisions of the education freedom account program and reverts the unused funds to be deposited to the education trust fund.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22-2778
10/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two
AN ACT repealing the education freedom account program.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Education Freedom Accounts; Unused Funds. Amend RSA 194-F by inserting after section 12 the following new section:
194-F:13 Closure of Accounts; June 30, 2022. The commissioner shall close every EFA and shall credit all unused funds to the education trust fund established in RSA 198:39.
2 Repeal; July 1, 2022. Education Freedom Accounts. RSA 194-F, relative to the education freedom account program, is repealed.
3 Reference Deleted; Compulsory Attendance by Pupil. Amend RSA 193:1, I(g)-(i) to read as follows:
(g) The pupil has been accepted into an accredited postsecondary education program; or
(h) The pupil obtains a waiver from the superintendent, which shall only be granted upon proof that the pupil is 16 years of age or older and has an alternative learning plan for obtaining either a high school diploma or its equivalent.
(1) Alternative learning plans shall include age-appropriate academic rigor and the flexibility to incorporate the pupil's interests and manner of learning. These plans may include, but are not limited to, such components or combination of components of extended learning opportunities as independent study, private instruction, performing groups, internships, community service, apprenticeships, and on-line courses.
(2) Alternative learning plans shall be developed, and amended if necessary, in consultation with the pupil, a school guidance counselor, the school principal and at least one parent or guardian of the pupil, and submitted to the school district superintendent for approval.
(3) If the superintendent does not approve the alternative learning plan, the parent or guardian of the pupil may appeal such decision to the local school board. A parent or guardian may appeal the decision of the local school board to the state board of education consistent with the provisions of RSA 21-N:11, III[; or].
[(i) The pupil is enrolled in the education freedom account program pursuant to RSA 194-F and is therefore exempt from this requirement. ]
I. Section 1 of this act shall take effect June 30, 2022.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect July 1, 2022.
22-2778
12/29/21
HB 1683-FN-LOCAL- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT repealing the education freedom account program.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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| |||
| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2022 | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease |
Funding Source: | [ ] General [ X ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other | |||
LOCAL: | FY 2022 | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 |
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | Indeterminable |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | Indeterminable |
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires the Department of Education on June 30, 2022, to close all education freedom accounts (EFAs) and transfer any unspent funds to the education trust fund, and further repeals the EFA program effective July 1, 2022. The Department reports the current program enrollment is 1,635 students (of which the Department states 280 are "EFA switchers" from public schools), with an estimated state cost of $8 million in FY 2022. At this time, there are no estimates as to how much in unused funds there may be at time of account closure (FY 2022), for future EFA program participation (FY 2023 and beyond), or how many students may return to public district schools without an EFA program therefore, this bill’s impact on future education trust fund payments relative to EFAs and local school districts revenue and expenditures is indeterminable.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education