Revision: Feb. 22, 2023, 11:33 a.m.
HB 529-FN-A-LOCAL - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
22Feb2023... 0544h
2023 SESSION
23-0524
10/04
HOUSE BILL 529-FN-A-LOCAL
SPONSORS: Rep. Fellows, Graf. 8; Rep. Luneau, Merr. 9; Rep. Ames, Ches. 13; Rep. Heath, Hills. 41; Rep. Cascadden, Coos 5; Rep. Myler, Merr. 9
COMMITTEE: Education
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes 2 additional aid grants for schools based on the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals and municipal fiscal capacity disparity, creates accountability measures for such grants, and allows for one-time exceptions of certain school funding laws for the availability of unanticipated funds to school districts.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22Feb2023... 0544h 23-0524
10/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Sections; Additional Aid Grants for Schools. Amend RSA 198 by inserting after section 40-f the following new sections:
198:40-g Additional Aid Based on the Percentage Eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Meals.
I. In a municipality where 48 percent or more of the ADMR is eligible to receive a free or reduced-priced meal, an additional $700 times the ADMR of students eligible for a free or reduced-priced meal.
II. In a municipality where at least 12 percent but less than 48 percent of the ADMR is eligible to receive a free or reduced-priced meal, $87.50 plus $0.17014 for each 0.01 percent by which its free or reduced-priced meal eligibility rate exceeds 12 percent, times the ADMR of students eligible for a free or reduced-priced meal.
III. A municipality in which less than 12 percent of the ADMR are eligible to receive a free or reduced-priced meal shall receive no additional aid under this section.
198:40-h Additional Aid Based on Fiscal Capacity Disparity.
I. Each biennium the commissioner shall calculate fiscal capacity disparity aid and provide that amount of aid in each year of the biennium to a municipality as follows:
(a) A municipality with an equalized valuation per ADMR of $600,000 or less shall receive $2,000 per pupil in the municipality's ADMR.
(b) A municipality with an equalized valuation per ADMR greater than $600,000 but less than $1,600,000 shall receive 0.0020 cents for each dollar of difference between its equalized valuation per ADMR and $1,600,000, per pupil in the municipality's ADMR.
(c) A municipality with an equalized valuation per ADMR of $1,600,000 or more shall receive no fiscal capacity disparity aid.
II. In this section, "equalized valuation” means a municipality’s equalized valuation, including properties subject to taxation under RSA 82 and RSA 83-F, as determined by the department of revenue administration, that was the basis for the local tax assessment in the determination year.
2 New Subparagraphs; Determination of Final Adequate Education Grants. Amend RSA 198:41, I by inserting after subparagraph (e) the following new subparagraphs:
(f) Add the municipality's additional aid based on the percentage eligible for free or reduced-price meals pursuant to RSA 198:40-g.
(g) Add the municipality's additional aid based on fiscal capacity disparity pursuant to RSA 198:40-h.
3 New Section; School Money; Adequate Education; Education Trust Fund; Accountability for Grants. Amend RSA 198 by inserting after section 41 the following new section:
194:41-a Accountability for Grants.
I. In order to receive a grant under RSA 198:40-g or RSA 198:40-h, the eligible school district shall provide a plan to the department of education outlining how the district intends to use grant award funds to improve the educational achievement and growth of students. The plan shall include an accountability component designed to generate data that measures student academic achievement and growth of knowledge and skills in reading and language arts and/or mathematics at what grade levels funds will be used. The school district shall develop and administer its own grant accountability assessment that identifies a pupil’s range of learning and yields objective data to use in improving instruction and learning, or use the statewide assessment.
II. The school district shall submit to the department an annual grant accountability progress report that includes evidence of satisfactory program implementation and progress toward grant accountability improvement targets, as described in paragraph I of this section. The primary goal of this grant is to improve student achievement and growth and to help the school district to have funding for successful, best practice student learning approaches. The accountability plan will not be a conditional requirement to receive the grant if the grant award as estimated on November 15 pursuant to RSA 198:41, V is less than $50,000.
4 School Districts; Unanticipated Funds Available; Special Meetings.
I. Notwithstanding RSA 198:20-b and RSA 198:48, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, a school district may accept and expend unanticipated funds from the education trust fund which may become available during the year as a result of adjustments to the calculation of adequate education grant amounts.
II. Notwithstanding RSA 197:3, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, a school district at a special meeting may make adjustments to the district’s operating budget due to adjustments to the calculation of adequate education grant amounts.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.
23-0524
1/9/23
HB 529-FN-A-LOCAL- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT:
Due to time constraints, the Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to provide a fiscal note for this bill, as introduced, at this time. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the House Clerk's Office.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education