Revision: May 28, 2025, 3:36 p.m.
Rep. Cordelli, Carr. 7
May 16, 2025
2025-2239h
06/11
Amendment to SB 69-LOCAL
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT relative to acceptance of or rejection of charitable contributions, gifts, or donations by local school boards, and establishing a virtual early childhood readiness family engagement program.
Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following:
1 Local Planning and Approval. Amend RSA 194-E:2, VI to read as follows:
VI. Each public school and each local school board may seek and accept public and private gifts, grants, and donations to offset the costs of developing and implementing innovation plans and plans for creating innovation school zones, provided that such gifts, grants, or donations shall be accepted or rejected by the school board after being discussed and voted on in a public session. Gifts or donations may be made anonymously if the donor so chooses.
2 Trust Funds Created for Specific Purposes; Expenditures; Administration. Amend RSA 198:20-c, VI to read as follows:
VI. The district may authorize the acceptance of privately-donated gifts, legacies and devises to be utilized for the same purpose as a trust fund created under this section; provided, however, that such gifts, legacies or devises shall be invested and accounted for separately from, and not commingled with, amounts appropriated under paragraph I, and shall be subject to the custody and investment provisions applicable to trust funds accepted under RSA 31:31. Gifts authorized pursuant to this paragraph shall be accepted or rejected by the school board after being discussed and voted on in a public session. Gifts or donations may be made anonymously if the donor so chooses.
3 Supply of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors. Amend RSA 200:44-b, IV to read as follows:
IV. A school may enter into an agreement with a manufacturer of epinephrine auto-injectors, third-party suppliers of epinephrine auto-injectors, or health care offices to obtain epinephrine auto-injectors at no charge or at fair-market prices or at reduced prices. A school district may accept gifts, grants or donations from foundations, organizations, or private parties to purchase epinephrine auto-injectors. Gifts authorized pursuant to this paragraph shall be accepted or rejected by the school board after being discussed and voted on in a public session. Gifts or donations may be made anonymously if the donor so chooses.
4 Supply of Bronchodilators, Spacers, or Nebulizers. Amend RSA 200:54, IV to read as follows:
IV. A school may enter into an agreement with a manufacturer of bronchodilators, spacers, or nebulizers, third-party suppliers of bronchodilators, spacers, or nebulizers, or health care offices to obtain bronchodilators, spacers, or nebulizers at no charge or at fair-market prices or at reduced prices. A school district may accept gifts, grants or donations from foundations, organizations, or private parties to purchase bronchodilators, spacers, or nebulizers. Gifts authorized pursuant to this paragraph shall be accepted or rejected by the school board after being discussed and voted on in a public session. Gifts or donations may be made anonymously if the donor so chooses.
5 Trust Funds for Districts. Amend RSA 31:31 to read as follows:
31:31 Trust Funds for Districts. Except where otherwise specifically provided in the charter of a city or by special act of the legislature whenever a gift, legacy or devise shall be made in trust to a school district, village district or any subdivision of a town and accepted by it, the same shall be held in custody and administered by the trustees of trust funds of such town or in case of districts embracing 2 or more towns by the trustees of trust funds of that town which the voters of said district may elect. The governing body of any such district or subdivision shall expend such district or subdivision trust funds, or the income thereof to be expended, consistently with the terms of the trust. The provisions of RSA 31:32 shall not apply to expenditures of district or subdivision trust funds. Gifts made pursuant to this section shall be accepted or rejected by a school board after being discussed and voted on in a public session. Gifts or donations may be made anonymously if the donor so chooses.
6 Public recreation and Parks; Establishment and Management. Amend RSA 35-B:1 to read as follows:
35-B:1 Establishment and Management. Any town, city, county, village district or school district acting through its governing body, may either independently or in conjunction with the United States, the state of New Hampshire, or any other political subdivision acquire land within or without its jurisdiction by gift, purchase or lease, for a public recreation and park area and may prepare, equip, and maintain said land for said purpose. Said town, city, county or district may establish a system of reasonable fees and charges thereon; may conduct and promote leisure-time activities thereon. In connection therewith, any such town, city, county, or district may construct, reconstruct, equip, operate, and maintain any recreation building or recreation support facility; and may employ an administrative officer and such other persons as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. Any town, city, county or district shall have the power to jointly enter into any contract with any organization or organizations for the purpose of conducting leisure-time programs, acquiring recreational lands or facilities, or exercising any other power granted by this chapter. Gifts made pursuant to this section shall be accepted or rejected by a school board after being discussed and voted on in a public session. Gifts or donations may be made anonymously if the donor so chooses.
7 New Paragraph; Donations to Regional Career and Technical Education Center Programs. Amend RSA 188-E:9-a by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:
II-a. Donations made pursuant to paragraph II shall be accepted or rejected by a school board after being discussed and voted on in a public session. Gifts or donations may be made anonymously if the donor so chooses.
8 New Section; Virtual Early Childhood Readiness Family Engagement Program. Amend RSA 186 by inserting after section 70 the following new section:
186:71 Virtual Early Childhood Readiness Family Engagement Program.
I. In this section:
(a) "Department" means the department of education.
(b) "Preschool child" means a 4- or 5-year-old child who is not enrolled in kindergarten.
(c) "Virtual early childhood readiness family engagement program" means a statewide nonprofit digital initiative aimed at developing school readiness skills for preschool children and fostering family engagement.
II. There is established a virtual early childhood readiness family engagement program to provide early childhood literacy and improve kindergarten readiness among children in New Hampshire. The program shall offer an online, evidence-based early literacy initiative for children 4 and 5 years old who are not yet enrolled in kindergarten. The early childhood readiness program shall operate as a statewide initiative, utilizing educational technology and family engagement to develop school readiness skills for preschool children. The program shall deliver age-appropriate literacy preparation in reading, math, and science.
III. The department of education shall, subject to the availability of appropriated funds, provide the kindergarten readiness literacy program to preschool children statewide.
IV. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department of education may accept and expend unanticipated funds, grants, or donations from state, federal, or other government entities, as well as private and nonprofit sources, for the kindergarten readiness program, as such funds become available.
V. Each year, the virtual early childhood readiness family engagement program shall submit an annual report to the governor, speaker of the house, and president of the senate, which shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) Number of children participating in the program;
(b) Number of families participating in the program; and
(c) Number of private and public preschool providers engaged in the program.
9 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
2025-2239h
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill requires local school boards to publicly discuss and vote before accepting or rejecting any charitable gifts, grants, or donations, and establishes a statewide virtual early childhood readiness family engagement program.