SB 0132

AN ACT extending the Parents as Teachers program in Sullivan county and making an appropriation therefor.

SPONSORS: Sen. Odell, Dist 8; Sen. Estabrook, Dist 21; Sen. O'Hearn, Dist 12; Rep. Rodeschin, Sull 20

This bill extends the Parents as Teachers Program through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005 and makes an appropriation for the program.

The bill also transfers responsibility for the Parents as Teachers Program from the department of health and human services to the department of education.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

AN ACT extending the Parents as Teachers program in Sullivan county and making an appropriation therefor.

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

1 Appropriation. There is hereby appropriated the sum of $65,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, and the sum of $65,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, to the department of health and human services to continue the Parents as Teachers program in Sullivan county pursuant to RSA 193:35. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

2 Parents As Teachers Program; Reference to Department of Health and Human Services Replaced with Department of Education. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 193:35, I to read as follows:

I. The department of [~~health and human services~~] education shall establish the school district based Parents as Teachers Program for a rural community in Sullivan county in cooperation with School Administrative Unit 6 and the Parent Information Center. Sullivan county will be the rural site for the program because of its unique demographic profile, including the high number of risk factors affecting its children, the demonstrated interest of its public officials in the program, and the capacity to link the program to existing programs within the county including Good Beginnings, the Parent Information Center, and department of [~~health and human services~~] education programs in Sullivan county. The department shall use the following criteria to measure the effectiveness of the program:

3 Parents As Teachers Program; Rulemaking; Reference to Department of Health and Human Services Replaced with Department of Education. Amend RSA 193:36 to read as follows:

193:36 Rulemaking. The commissioner of [~~health and human services~~] the department of education shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, necessary to carry out the provisions of this subdivision.

4 Parents as Teachers; Report and Recommendation; Information from Department of Education. Amend RSA 193:37 to read as follows:

193:37 Report and Recommendation. On or before October 1, 2004, the department of health and human services shall prepare and submit to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the chairpersons of the house and senate education committees an evaluation and report of the school district based Parents as Teachers Programs established pursuant to this subdivision, and recommendations for the expansion of the program statewide. The evaluation and report shall incorporate the criteria set forth in RSA 193:35, I and shall include an assessment of the program's effectiveness based on those criteria. The department of education shall provide the department of health and human services with information on the Parents as Teachers Program from the date of transfer of the program through September 30, 2004, for the purposes of preparing the report.

AN ACT extending the Parents as Teachers program in Sullivan county and making an appropriation therefor.

The Department of Health and Human Services indicates this bill, as amended by the Senate (Senate Amendment #2003-0918s), will increase state general fund expenditures and local revenue by $65,000 in FY 2004 and $65,000 in FY 2005. There will be no fiscal impact on state and county revenue or county and local expenditures.

This bill appropriates $65,000 in FY 2004 and $65,000 in FY 2005 in general funds to the Department of Health and Human Services for the purposes of this act.

The Department states funds will be distributed to school districts and the districts will provide services to approximately 82 families each year at a cost of $793 per family. The Department of Health and Human Services assumes the responsibility for the program and disbursement of funds will be assumed by the Department of Education.