SB 55-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/20/03 0710s
03/20/03 0930s
2003 SESSION
04/10
SENATE BILL 55-FN
AN ACT raising the age at which a child may terminate his or her public education.
SPONSORS: Sen. O'Hearn, Dist 12; Sen. Johnson, Dist 2; Sen. Green, Dist 6; Rep. Carson, Rock 75; Rep. S. L'Heureux, Merr 37; Rep, Crane, Hills 59
This bill raises from 16 to 18 the age at which a pupil may decide to terminate his or her public education, and provides an exemption for home educated pupils.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/20/03 0710s
03/20/03 0930s
03-0686
04/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three
AN ACT raising the age at which a child may terminate his or her public education.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Pupils; Compulsory Attendance. Amend RSA 193:1, I to read as follows:
I. [A] Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a parent of any child at least 6 years of age and under [16] 18 years of age shall cause such child to attend the public school to which the child is assigned in the child's resident district. Such child shall attend full time when such school is in session unless:
2 Pupils; Compulsory Attendance. Amend RSA 193:1, IV to read as follows:
IV. [Any] Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any child [at least 16] under 18 years of age [and under 18 years of age] who has not attained sufficient credit to receive a high school diploma or its equivalent, and who wishes to terminate such child's public or nonpublic education prior to graduating from high school shall do so only after a conference with the principal, or designee. A school district shall develop a policy to permit withdrawal under this paragraph. The principal shall request a conference with the parent, guardian, or other custodian. Written approval of withdrawal must be received from such child's parent, guardian, or other person residing in the state and having custody or charge of such child. The written approval shall be dated and the signature witnessed by the principal of the school where the child is in attendance, or the principal's designee.
3 Truant Officers; Duties. Amend RSA 189:36 to read as follows:
189:36 Duties. Truant officers shall, when directed by the school board, enforce the laws and regulations relating to truants and children [between the ages of 8] at least 6 years of age and [16] under 18 years of age not attending school and without any regular and lawful occupation; and the laws relating to the attendance at school of children [between the ages of 8] at least 6 years of age and under 18 years of age; and shall have authority without a warrant to take and place in school any children found employed contrary to the laws relating to the employment of children, or violating the laws relating to the compulsory attendance at school of children under the age of 18 years, and the laws relating to child labor.
4 Pupils; Bylaws as to Nonattendance. Amend RSA 193:16 to read as follows:
193:16 Bylaws as to Nonattendance. Districts may make bylaws, not repugnant to law, concerning habitual truants and children [between the ages of] at least 6 years of age and [16] under18 years of age not attending school and not having a regular and lawful occupation, and to compel the attendance of such children at school; failure to comply with such bylaws shall constitute a violation for each offense.
5 Applicability; Home Educated Pupils. The provisions of this act shall not apply to children who are home schooled pursuant to a home education plan established under RSA 193-A. The provisions of this act shall not be construed to alter, modify, or affect in any way the provisions of RSA 193-A.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
03-0686
1/23/03
SB 55-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT raising the age at which a child may terminate his or her public education.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Education indicates this bill will increase state education trust fund expenditures and local revenue by $2.5 million in FY 2007 and increase local expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2004 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact to state and county revenue or county expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department states beginning in FY 2004, the requirements of this bill will increase the number of high school pupils. These additional pupils will add to the school districts' costs but the Department cannot estimate the amount of the increase. In addition, the pupils will result in an increase in the amount of adequate education grants starting in FY 2007, the year in which the pupils will first appear in average daily membership in residence. The Department assumed an increase of 499 students weighted with a factor of 1.2, for a total of 598 and a base cost of $4,125, to arrive at an estimate of $2.5 million.