HB 603-FN-LOCAL - AS INTRODUCED

2003 SESSION

03-0946

04/01

HOUSE BILL 603-FN-LOCAL

AN ACT requiring school districts to reimburse a portion of per pupil costs directly to parents or legal guardians of pupils who do not attend a public school.

SPONSORS: Rep. Campbell, Straf 68; Rep. Newton, Straf 67; Rep. Scott, Straf 71; Rep. Easson, Straf 68; Rep. Musler, Straf 68; Sen. Boyce, Dist 4; Sen. Kenney, Dist 3

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This bill requires school districts to reimburse a portion of per pupil costs directly to parents or legal guardians of pupils who do not attend a public 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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03-0946

04/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three

AN ACT requiring school districts to reimburse a portion of per pupil costs directly to parents or legal guardians of pupils who do not attend a public school.

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

1 New Section; School Money; Reimbursement of Per Pupil Costs. Amend RSA 198 by inserting after section 41 the following new section:

198:41-a Reimbursement of Per Pupil Costs.

I. Notwithstanding any provision of law in RSA 198:38-61 to the contrary, a school district shall issue a reimbursement in an amount equal to 50 percent of the most recently available average base cost per pupil of an adequate education as determined under RSA 198:40, to the parent or legal guardian of any child who is not enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school. Such reimbursements shall be available each school year and shall be issued directly to the parent or legal guardian of any child enrolled as described in this section.

II. To be eligible to receive reimbursement under this section, a parent or legal guardian shall notify the local school district, at least 45 days prior to the start of the school year, of his or her intent not to enroll his or her child or children in a public elementary or secondary school.

III. The commissioner of the department of education shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A, to implement this section.

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

LBAO

03-0946

Revised 2/7/03

HB 603 FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT requiring school districts to reimburse a portion of per pupil costs directly to parents or legal guardians of pupils who do not attend a public school.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Department of Education indicates this bill will increase local expenditures by $41,452,380 in FY 2005, $50,983,786 in FY 2006 and $54,065,265 in FY 2007. There will be no fiscal impact to state, county and local revenue or state and county expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

The Department included home schooled students in its response for this bill. In addition, the Department assumes that non-public enrollment will increase by 5% per year and home school enrollment will increase by 10% per year, and that the first year payments will be made in FY 2005. The Department used $3,556 and $4,267 in FY 2005 and $4,125 and $4,950 in FY 2006 and 2007 for the base cost for elementary and high school students, respectively.

Elementary Base

Home Total Cost Elementary

Pupils Schooled Pupils 50% Cost

FY 2005 11,842 3,739 15,581 1,778 $27,703,018

FY 2006 12,434 4,113 16,547 2,063 $34,136,461

FY 2007 13,056 4,524 17,580 2,063 $36,267,540

High Base

Home Total Cost Elementary

Pupils Schooled Pupils 50% Cost

FY 2005 5,654 789 6,443 2,134 $13,749,362

FY 2006 5,937 870 6,807 2,475 $16,847,325

FY 2007 6,234 957 7,191 2,475 $17,797,725

Total

Elementary High Elementary

Cost Cost and High

FY 2005 $27,703,018 $13,749,362 $41,452,380

FY 2006 $34,136,461 $16,847,325 $50,983,786

FY 2007 $36,267,540 $17,797,725 $54,065,265