HB 1677-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2024 SESSION
24-2696
02/10
HOUSE BILL 1677-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Hoell, Merr. 27; Rep. Packard, Rock. 16; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2; Rep. Phillips, Rock. 7; Rep. Reid, Hills. 27; Rep. T. Mannion, Hills. 1; Rep. Granger, Straf. 2; Rep. Layon, Rock. 13; Rep. Potenza, Straf. 19; Rep. Sirois, Hills. 32; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Lang, Dist 2
COMMITTEE: Education
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ANALYSIS
This bill extends eligibility for the education freedom account program to students who participated in the program in the preceeding year, students whose enrollment transfer requests were denied, and to students in school districts which performed at 49 percent or below in statewide assessments.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2696
02/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Short Title. This act shall be known as the Every Student Loves Education Achievement and Reforming Negligent Schools (LEARNS) Act.
2 Definitions; Eligible Student. RSA 194-F:1, VI is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
VI. "Eligible student" means a resident of this state who is eligible to enroll in a public elementary or secondary school and who meets any of the following criteria:
(a) A student whose annual household income at the time the student applies for the program is less than or equal to 350 percent of the federal poverty guidelines as updated annually in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services under 42 U.S.C. section 9902(2). No income threshold need be met in subsequent years, provided the student otherwise qualifies. Students in the special school district within the department of corrections established in RSA 194:60 shall not be eligible students;
(b) A student who lives within the geographic boundaries of a public school or district, excluding chartered public schools authorized by the state board of education pursuant to RSA 194-B:3-a, which has an aggregate performance of less than 49 percent proficiency in the mathematics, reading and language arts, or science statewide assessment administered pursuant to RSA 193-C in the first or second preceding year;
(c) A student whose enrollment transfer request was denied pursuant to RSA 193:3; or
(d) A student who participated in the EFA program in the preceeding school year.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
24-2696
Revised 12/19/23
HB 1677-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None
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Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable | ||||
Funding Source(s) | Education Trust Fund | |||||
Appropriations | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] N/A • Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] N/A | ||||||
| ||||||
Estimated Political Subdivision Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Local Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable | ||||
Local Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable | ||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill expands eligibility for the education freedom account (EFA) program by adding new qualifying conditions. As of November 2023, 4,552 students were in the EFA program with an annualized cost estimated at $23.8 million with the typically grant averaging to be $5,235 per student. The current average education grant to public district schools is $6,217, which includes cost for an adequate education and extraordinary needs grant.
The Department of Education states this bill will result in an indeterminable number of new students accessing the program. The following is information relative to the different situations in which a student may access the EFA program:
As students potentially leave traditional district schools and join the EFA program, districts may feel pressure to reduce their local expenditures to better fit the reduced population served. It is unknown the impact this would have on local expenditures, but this could potentially result in an indeterminable decrease.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Feb. 6, 2024 | 2024-0389h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 17, 2024 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 22, 2024 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 30, 2024 | House | Exec Session |
| Jan. 31, 2024 | House | Exec Session |
| Jan. 31, 2024 | House | Floor Vote |
Feb. 15, 2024: Reconsider ITL (Rep. Myler): MF DV 175-193 02/15/2024 HJ 5
Feb. 15, 2024: Inexpedient to Legislate: MA DV 192-174 02/15/2024 HJ 5
Feb. 15, 2024: Ought to Pass: MF RC 174-192 02/15/2024 HJ 5
Feb. 15, 2024: Amendment # 2024-0389h: AF DV 121-246 02/15/2024 HJ 5
Feb. 7, 2024: Committee Report: Without Recommendation 01/31/2024 (Vote 10-10; RC) HC 6 P. 13
Jan. 25, 2024: ==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 01/31/2024 10:00 am LOB 205-207
Jan. 25, 2024: ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 01/30/2024 10:00 am LOB 205-207
Jan. 17, 2024: ==CANCELLED== Public Hearing: 01/22/2024 10:15 am LOB 205-207
Jan. 5, 2024: Public Hearing: 01/17/2024 01:00 pm LOB 205-207
Dec. 15, 2023: Introduced 01/03/2024 and referred to Education HJ 1