HB68 (2025) Detail

Making best interest placements within the same school district mandatory in the absence of a valid reason to deny the placement.


HB 68 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

 

20Mar2025... 0103h

2025 SESSION

25-0053

02/05

 

HOUSE BILL 68

 

AN ACT making best interest placements within the same school district mandatory in the absence of a valid reason to deny the placement.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Layon, Rock. 13; Rep. D. McGuire, Merr. 14; Rep. D. Thomas, Rock. 16; Rep. J. Aron, Sull. 4; Rep. Cordelli, Carr. 7; Rep. Thibault, Merr. 25; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18

 

COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires superintendents to approve student requests for reassignment within the same school district, and requires superintendents to provide written reasons to parents for denials of requests.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20Mar2025... 0103h 25-0053

02/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

 

AN ACT making best interest placements within the same school district mandatory in the absence of a valid reason to deny the placement.

 

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

 

1  Change of School or Assignment; Best Interest of Student.  Amend RSA 193:3, I(c) to read as follows:

(c) Prior to or at such meeting, the parent or guardian shall make a specific request that the student be re-assigned by the school board to another public school, public academy, or an approved private school within the district or to a public school, public academy, or an approved private school in another district. If such request is made to re-assign the student to another public school or public academy within the school district, the superintendent shall approve the request unless it fails to meet the requirements under this section.

2  Change of School or Assignment; Finding Not in Best Interest.  Amend RSA 193:3, I(i) to read as follows:

(i)  If the superintendent does not find that it is in the best interest of the student to change the student's school or assignment, the parent or guardian may request a hearing with the school board of residence to determine if the student is experiencing a manifest educational hardship under paragraph II.  Within 10 days following such decision, the superintendent shall provide a written report to the parent or guardian providing the reasons why the request cannot be accommodated.

3  New Paragraph; Failure to Meet Requirements.  Amend RSA 193:3 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:

I-a.  If the superintendent fails to meet any requirements under this section, the request shall be approved.

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

Amendments

Date Amendment
Feb. 6, 2025 2025-0103h

Links


Date Body Type
Jan. 27, 2025 House Hearing
Feb. 3, 2025 House Exec Session
Feb. 3, 2025 House Floor Vote

Bill Text Revisions

HB68 Revision: 47580 Date: March 20, 2025, 12:08 p.m.
HB68 Revision: 46948 Date: Feb. 6, 2025, 8:20 a.m.
HB68 Revision: 45859 Date: Dec. 23, 2024, 2:43 p.m.

Docket


March 24, 2025: Introduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Education; SJ 9


March 20, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0103h: MA RC 217-156 03/20/2025 HJ 9


March 20, 2025: Amendment # 2025-0103h: AA DV 201-160 03/20/2025 HJ 9


Feb. 6, 2025: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate


Feb. 6, 2025: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0103h 02/03/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC)


Jan. 29, 2025: Executive Session: 02/03/2025 01:00 pm LOB 205-207


Jan. 22, 2025: Public Hearing: 01/27/2025 01:00 pm LOB 205-207


Dec. 23, 2024: Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 2 P. 4