Revision: Feb. 15, 2022, 4:34 p.m.
Senate Education
February 15, 2022
2022-0721s
10/05
Amendment to SB 410
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT relative to public comment periods at school district meetings and meetings of the state board of education.
Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following:
1 New Subdivision; School Board Public Comment Period. Amend RSA 189 by inserting after section 73 the following new subdivision:
School Board Public Comment Period
189:74 School Board Public Comment Period.
I. School boards shall provide the opportunity for the public to comment on school district matters at a meeting of the school board held under RSA 91-A:2. The public comment period shall be for no less than 30 minutes. School boards may request that persons register in advance of the meeting, but may not require pre-registration as a condition of participating in the public comment period. School boards may impose reasonable time limits for each speaker, provided such time limits are equal for all speakers. Nothing in this section shall restrict school boards from establishing other reasonable standards for the public comment period, provided such standards are imposed equally for all speakers. School boards may reasonably restrict public comments that disclose student personally-identifiable information, teacher personally-identifiable information, or other confidential or privileged information.
II. The requirement that a school board shall provide the opportunity for the public to comment on school district matters at a meeting of the school board shall not apply to emergency meetings under RSA 91-A:2, II.
III. The requirement that a school board shall provide the opportunity for the public to comment on school district matters at a meeting of the school board shall not apply when the sole purpose of the school board meeting is to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3.
2 New Section; State Board of Education; Public Comment Period. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 10 the following new section:
21-N:10-a State Board of Education Public; Comment Period. The state board of education shall provide the opportunity for the public comment on educational matters at meetings of the state board. The public comment period shall be for no less than 30 minutes. The state board of education may request that persons register in advance of the meeting, but may not require pre-registration as a condition of participating in the public comment period. The state board of education may impose reasonable time limits for each speaker, provided such time limits are equal for all speakers. Nothing in this section shall restrict the state board of education from establishing other reasonable standards for the public comment period, provided such standards are imposed equally for all speakers. The state board of education may reasonably restrict public comments that disclose student personally-identifiable information, teacher personally-identifiable information, or other confidential or privileged information.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
2022-0721s
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill requires public comment periods at school board meetings and meetings of the state board of education.