Revision: Dec. 23, 2021, 12:24 p.m.
SB 410 - AS INTRODUCED
2022 SESSION
22-3107
10/05
SENATE BILL 410
AN ACT relative to school district transparency.
SPONSORS: Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. French, Dist 7; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Morse, Dist 22; Sen. Gray, Dist 6; Sen. Giuda, Dist 2; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 4; Rep. Rice, Hills. 37
COMMITTEE: Education
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires public comment periods at school board meetings, the adoption of a school board code of ethics developed by the state board of education, and procedures for amendment and submission of school district charters.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22-3107
10/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two
AN ACT relative to school district transparency.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subdivisions; Public Comments at School Board Meetings. Amend RSA 189 by inserting after section 73 the following new subdivisions:
Public Comments at School Board Meetings
189:74 Public Comments at School Board Meetings.
I. Every public meeting held by a school board shall include a period for public comment which shall be publicly noticed and shall comply with requirements of RSA 91-A. The period for public comment shall be a minimum of 30 minutes in length and shall be held at the beginning of the meeting as the first order of business after the meeting is called to order.
II. The school board shall not require people who want to speak during the public comment period to register or sign in more than 2 hours in advance of the meeting. The school board may give preference in speaking to parents of children in the district and to other persons who live in the district.
III. The school board may impose reasonable, but equal, time limits on each speaker.
School Board Code of Ethics
189:75 School Board Code of Ethics.
I. The state board of education shall adopt a model code of ethics for members of local school board by December 31, 2022. Such model code of ethics shall also include a method of reporting of violations of such code and appropriate consequences for violation of a provision or provisions of such code. The state board of education may periodically adopt revisions to such model code as it deems necessary.
II. Within 3 months of adoption by the state board of education of a model code of ethics, each local school board shall adopt a code of ethics that includes, at a minimum, the state board of education's model code of ethics. Each local school board shall incorporate into its code of ethics any revisions adopted by the state board of education into its code of ethics within 3 months of adoption of such revision.
III. Any discussion, deliberation, or votes concerning the adoption of a code of ethics by a local school board shall be open to the public and shall accept public comment.
IV. The code of ethics adopted by the local school board shall be posted on the school board website, any individual public school website, and shall be made available upon request by any member of the public.
2 New Section; School Meetings; School District Charters. Amend RSA 197 by inserting after section 5-b the following new section:
197:5-c School District Charters.
I. If a school district has a governing charter, then that charter shall be approved by the voters of the district every 5 years.
II. Any amendment to the school district charter may be proposed by a member of the public or a member of a school board. If the school board, as a governing body, approves by a majority vote the proposed amendment according to the procedures in RSA 49-B, it shall then be placed on the ballot for the voter's approval at the next school meeting or election according to this chapter.
III. A current copy of a school district's charter shall be submitted to the state board of education. Any time an amendment to the school district charter is adopted by a vote of the people, an updated copy of the charter shall be submitted to the state board of education.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.