CACR 29 – AS INTRODUCED

2008 SESSION

08-2156

06/04

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 29

RELATING TO: education.

PROVIDING THAT: the recognition of local control of education in the New Hampshire constitution is reestablished.

SPONSORS: Rep. Itse, Rock 9

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution reestablishes the recognition of local control of education in the New Hampshire constitution.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

08-2156

06/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

RELATING TO: education.

PROVIDING THAT: the recognition of local control of education in the New Hampshire constitution is reestablished.

Be it Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, that the

Constitution of New Hampshire be amended as follows:

I. That article 6 of the first part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:

[Art.] 6. [Morality and Piety.] As morality and piety, rightly grounded on [high principles] the fundamental principles of the constitution, will give the best and greatest security to government, and will lay, in the hearts of men, the strongest obligations to due subjection; and as the knowledge of these is most likely to be propagated through a society by establishment of schools for that purpose, therefore, the people of this state have a right to empower, and do hereby fully empower the Legislature to authorize from time to time, the public schools in the political subdivisions for public education and charter schools and the several political subdivisions for public education, charter schools, parishes, bodies corporate, or religious societies shall at all times have the right of electing their own teachers, [and] of contracting with them for their support or maintenance, or both and establishing their own curricula. But no person shall ever be compelled to pay towards the support of the schools of any sect or denomination. And every person, denomination or sect shall be equally under the protection of the law; and no subordination of any one sect, denomination or persuasion to another shall ever be established.

II. That the above amendment proposed to the constitution be submitted to the qualified voters of the state at the state general election to be held in November, 2008.

III. That the selectmen of all towns, cities, wards and places in the state are directed to insert in their warrants for the said 2008 election an article to the following effect: To decide whether the amendments of the constitution proposed by the 2008 session of the general court shall be approved.

IV. That the wording of the question put to the qualified voters shall be:

“Are you in favor of amending article 6 of the first part of the constitution to read as follows:

[Art.] 6. [Morality and Piety.] As morality and piety, rightly grounded on the fundamental principles of the constitution, will give the best and greatest security to government, and will lay, in the hearts of men, the strongest obligations to due subjection; and as the knowledge of these is most likely to be propagated through a society by establishment of schools for that purpose, therefore, the people of this state have a right to empower, and do hereby fully empower the Legislature to authorize from time to time, the public schools in the political subdivisions for public education and charter schools and the several parishes, bodies corporate, or religious societies shall at all times have the right of electing their own teachers, of contracting with them for their support or maintenance, or both and establishing their own curricula. But no person shall ever be compelled to pay towards the support of the schools of any sect or denomination. And every person, denomination or sect shall be equally under the protection of the law; and no subordination of any one sect, denomination or persuasion to another shall ever be established.”

V. That the secretary of state shall print the question to be submitted on a separate ballot or on the same ballot with other constitutional questions. The ballot containing the question shall include 2 squares next to the question allowing the voter to vote “Yes” or “No.” If no cross is made in either of the squares, the ballot shall not be counted on the question. The outside of the ballot shall be the same as the regular official ballot except that the words “Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments proposed by the 2008 General Court” shall be printed in bold type at the top of the ballot.

VI. That if the proposed amendment is approved by 2/3 of those voting on the amendment, it becomes effective when the governor proclaims its adoption.