SB 157-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

03/12/2015 0677s

03/12/2015 0840s

2015 SESSION

15-0796

04/09

SENATE BILL 157-FN

AN ACT relative to encouraging high school students to take and pass a United States citizenship test.

SPONSORS: Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Stiles, Dist 24; Rep. Weyler, Rock 13; Rep. Cordelli, Carr 4; Rep. Notter, Hills 21; Rep. Murotake, Hills 32

COMMITTEE: Education

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill encourages students in high school or equivalent to take and pass a United States citizenship test as a component of instruction in the history, government, and constitutions of the United States and New Hampshire.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03/12/2015 0677s

03/12/2015 0840s

15-0796

04/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen

AN ACT relative to encouraging high school students to take and pass a United States citizenship test.

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

1 Legislative Purpose. In order to ensure that all New Hampshire high school graduates have a basic understanding of United States civics and history, and to promote and encourage active and engaged citizenship, the general court encourages all New Hampshire high school students to take a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) test based on that administered to all applicants for U.S. citizenship.

2 School Boards; Instruction in National and State History and Government. Amend RSA 189:11 to read as follows:

189:11 Instruction in National and State History and Government.

I. In all public and private schools in the state there shall be given regular courses of instruction in the history, government and constitutions of the United States and New Hampshire, including the organization and operation of New Hampshire municipal, county and state government and of the federal government. Such instruction shall begin not later than the opening of the eighth grade and shall continue in high school as an identifiable component of a year’s course in the history and government of the United States and New Hampshire.

II.(a) As a component of instruction under paragraph I, students shall be encouraged to take a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) test.

(b) The test shall be based on the 100-question test used by the USCIS and administered to all applicants for United States citizenship. Students taking the test will be tested on all 100 questions, and a score of 60 percent shall represent a passing grade. Students may take the test more than once and those students who attain a passing grade shall be eligible for a certificate issued by their school.

3 Applicability. The provisions of this act shall only apply to students eligible to receive a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate on or after January 1, 2016.

4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

LBAO

15-0796

Amended 03/23/15

SB 157-FN FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to encouraging high school students to take and pass a United States citizenship test.

FISCAL IMPACT: