Revision: Jan. 21, 2025, 3:33 p.m.
HB 673-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0496
02/11
HOUSE BILL 673-FN
AN ACT relative to school bullying and discrimination plans.
SPONSORS: Rep. Selig, Straf. 10; Rep. Damon, Sull. 8; Rep. N. Germana, Ches. 15; Rep. Gregg, Hills. 7; Rep. Harriott-Gathright, Hills. 10; Rep. A. Murray, Hills. 20; Rep. Berch, Ches. 6; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires school boards to develop policies prohibiting bullying and cyberbullying, requires reporting of such incidents by all schools at the end of each semester, and requires the department of education to publish such data aggregated by school.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0496
02/11
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to school bullying and discrimination plans.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 193-F:4, II to read as follows:
II. The school board of each school district and the board of trustees of a chartered public school shall, no later than [6 months after the effective date of this section] January 1, 2026, adopt a written policy prohibiting bullying and cyberbullying. Such policy shall include the definitions set forth in RSA 193-F:3. The policy shall contain, at a minimum, the following components:
2 Reporting. Amend RSA 193-F:6 to read as follows:
193-F:6 Reporting.
I. [Each] Every school [district and chartered public school] that receives any state funding shall [annually] report substantiated incidents of bullying, [or] cyberbullying, or targeted acts against a protected class, to the department of education at the conclusion of each semester. Pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. 1232g, such reports shall not contain any personally identifiable information pertaining to any pupil. The department shall develop a form to facilitate the reporting by school districts and chartered public schools. The form shall provide for the reporting of any protected classes impacted through the use of a drop-down menu or checklist, as well as a space for a narrative description of the incident, and, if the person(s) who caused the incident was identified, a space to indicate how the situation was addressed, and whether such incident was elevated to the attorney general's office of civil rights crimes. The department shall maintain and aggregate records of such reports.
II. The department of education shall prepare an annual report of substantiated incidents of bullying or cyberbullying in the schools. The report shall include the number and types of such incidents in the schools and shall be submitted to the attorney general's office of civil rights, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the chairpersons of the house and senate education committees. The department shall publish an easily accessible public database of the aggregate data organized by school. The department of education shall assist school districts with recommendations for appropriate actions to address identified problems with pupil safety and violence prevention.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
25-0496
1/12/25
HB 673-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to school bullying and discrimination plans.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to complete a fiscal note for this bill as it is awaiting information from the Department of Education. The Department was contacted on 12/28/24 for a fiscal note worksheet. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the House Clerk's Office.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education