The following is the legislative schedule for the week of May 2, 2016. As the legislation session starts to wind down, only a handful of bills remain, but typically they are some of the most important ones. Please contact your legislators about these critical bills; they are marked with asterisks. Brief, polite calls and emails are effective; mention if you are a constituent. All contact information is at the end of this post.
TUESDAY, May 3, 2016: SENATE TRANSPORTATION, ROOM 103, LOB
Public hearing for the following bill
1:45 p.m. HB 504, relative to online driver education
position — SUPPORT
information — This bill will increase market competition which usually lowers costs and improves quality, and expands access. Education, including drivers ed, is not one-size-fits-all and this bill recognizes that people have different learning needs. Online education is a proven successful method of instruction, including for drivers ed. NH currently offers a high school diploma (through VLACS), as well as hunter and boater ed through online programs. Please join us at the public hearing. Note this bill is before a different committee; their contact information is specifically noted at the bottom.
THURSDAY, May 5, 2016: SENATE SESSION, Senate Chamber at 10:00am
full NH Senate will vote on the following bills
*HB 1229, prohibiting the inclusion of statewide assessment results in a student’s transcript without consent.
committee recommendation — Inexpedient to Legislate, 4-0
position — SUPPORT, Nay on ITL
information — This is a reasonable privacy protection for students. The statewide assessment is not designed as a measurement for individual performance. It was originally created for school district comparisons as well as school and teacher accountability. This bill prevents assessments from being used for a purpose for which they were not intended.
***HB 1338, relative to student exemption from the statewide assessment.
committee recommendation — Inexpedient to Legislate, 4-0
position — SUPPORT, Nay on ITL
information — This bill is in response to increasing demand from parents to refuse their child’s participation in mandatory testing, including the statewide assessments that are aligned with College and Career Readiness Standards (aka Common Core). This bill acknowledges parents’ rights to direct their children’s education. If the student does not participate in the assessment, this bill requires schools to provide an alternative educational activity which can be as simple as study hall or free reading time. This bill also protects the schools from any penalty from non-participation. There are documented instances of NH districts getting more aggressive and punitive with families who refuse their children’s participation in statewide assessments. For more information, read Senate Gives Parents’ Rights Bill a Chilly Welcome and Districts are Bullies and HB 1338, Respecting Parents’ Rights.
***HB 1637-FN, relative to school attendance in towns with no public schools.
committee recommendation — Interim Study, 5-0
position — SUPPORT amendment #1343s, NAY on Interim Study, YEA on OTP/A
information — This bill clarifies in statute that small towns without their own public schools may offer alternative arrangements for their students, regardless of grade level. These agreements could be made with area public and private schools. This is consistent with RSA 194:22 and RSA 193:1. It is also in line with other NH districts creating tuition agreements with private schools, even some located out of state. At the Senate public hearing, an amendment, #1343s from Sen. Avard and Rep. Hill, was introduced that would address some of the housekeeping issues with the version as passed by the House. It would clarify language within the bill to indicate it as a responsibility of the district rather than the parents. For additional information, read School Choice for Small Towns Hits Snag in Senate and Saving School Choice.
CONTACT LEGISLATORS
The Senate Transportation Committee will handle HB 504, the online drivers education bill. They should be contacted as soon as possible because the committee may exec the bill at any time.
Nancy Stiles — District 24, Hampton
nancy.stiles@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-3093
David Watters — District 4, Dover
david.watters@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-8631
Gary Daniels — District 11, Milford
Gary.Daniels@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-2609
Dan Feltes — District 15, Concord
Dan.Feltes@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-3067
Regina Birdsell — District 19, Hampstead/Windham/Derry
Regina.Birdsell@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-4151
To find your NH senator, and his or her contact information, refer to the senate’s roster page, or you can email all of them at senators@leg.state.nh.us. Those with an asterisk serve on the Senate Education Committee.
Jeff Woodburn — District 1, Dalton
Jeff.Woodburn@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-3207
Jeanie Forrester — District 2, Meredith
jeanie.forrester@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-4980
Jeb Bradley — District 3, Wolfeboro
jeb.bradley@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-2106
*David Watters — District 4, Dover
david.watters@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-8631
David Pierce — District 5, Lebanon
david.pierce@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-3067
Sam Cataldo — District 6, Farmington
sam.cataldo@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-4063
Andrew Hosmer — District 7, Laconia
andrew.hosmer@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-8631
Gerald Little — District 8, Weare
Jerry.Little@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-4151
Andy Sanborn — District 9, Bedford
andy.sanborn@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-2609
*Molly Kelly — District 10, Keene
molly.kelly@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-3207
Gary Daniels — District 11, Milford
Gary.Daniels@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-2609
*Kevin Avard — District 12, Nashua
Kevin.Avard@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-4151
Bette Lasky — District 13, Nashua
bette.lasky@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-3091
Sharon Carson — District 14, Londonderry
sharon.carson@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-1403
Dan Feltes — District 15, Concord
Dan.Feltes@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-3067
David Boutin — District 16, Hooksett/Manchester
dboutin1465@comcast.net
(603)271-3092
*John Reagan — District 17, Deerfield
john.reagan111@gmail.com
(603)271-4063
Donna Soucy — District 18, Manchester
donna.soucy@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-3207
Regina Birdsell — District 19, Hampstead/Windham/Derry
Regina.Birdsell@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-4151
Lou D’Allesandro — District 20, Manchester
dalas@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-2117
Martha Fuller Clark — District 21, Portsmouth
martha.fullerclark@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-3076
Chuck Morse — District 22, Salem
chuck.morse@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-8472
Russell Prescott — District 23, Kingston
represcott@represcott.com
(603)271-3074
*Nancy Stiles — District 24, Hampton
nancy.stiles@leg.state.nh.us
(603)271-3093