Revision: July 13, 2022, 8:28 a.m.
CHAPTER 333
SB 410 - FINAL VERSION
02/24/2022 0721s
2022 SESSION
22-3107
10/05
SENATE BILL 410
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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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill requires public comment periods at school board meetings and meetings of the state board of education.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
02/24/2022 0721s 22-3107
10/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
333:1 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.
333:2 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.
333:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: July 08, 2022
Effective Date: September 06, 2022