Bill Text - HB1682 (2024)

Relative to the civics test graduation requirement.


Revision: Jan. 4, 2024, 10:14 a.m.

HB 1682-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2024 SESSION

24-2724

02/05

 

HOUSE BILL 1682-FN

 

AN ACT relative to the civics test graduation requirement.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. Peternel, Carr. 6; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17

 

COMMITTEE: Education

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill provides authority for schools to use the department of education provided civics test to satisfy graduation requirements.

 

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

24-2724

02/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

 

AN ACT relative to the civics test graduation requirement.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Instruction in National and State History and Government, and Civics.  Amend RSA 189:11, II to read as follows:

II. As a component of instruction under this section, a locally developed competency assessment of United States government and civics that includes, but is not limited to, the nature, purpose, structure, function, and history of the United States government, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and noteworthy government and civic leaders, shall be administered to students as part of the required high school course in history and government of the United States and New Hampshire. To be eligible for a graduation certificate, a student in a public, chartered public, non-public school, or a privately incorporated school that serves as a public school in the state, shall attain a locally sanctioned passing grade on the competency assessment, and [a grade of] shall score 70 percent or better on the 128 question [civics] digital assessment of the (history and government) naturalization examination developed by the 2020 United States Citizen and Immigration Services provided by the department of education through the statewide assessment under RSA 193:C. [Schools are required to provide accommodations and may modify the naturalization examination for a child with a disability in accordance with the child's individualized education program. By June 30 of each year, each school district, chartered public or non-public school, or a privately incorporated school that serves as a public school in the state, shall submit the results of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) test to the department of education.]

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBA

24-2724

Revised 1/4/24

 

HB 1682-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to the civics test graduation requirement.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [    ] State              [    ] County               [ X ] Local              [    ] None

 

Estimated Political Subdivision Impact - Increase / (Decrease)

 

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

Local Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Local Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill will require schools to use a digital civics assessment developed by the Department of Education. The Department states this could result in reduced local school district expenditures as the State will be providing the technology platform for the administration scoring and reporting assessment results. The Department states it has already contracted with the vendor to do this work and there will be no additional State costs in future years.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Education