HB375: relative to providing information about effective forms of child discipline to parents.

HB 375 - AS INTRODUCED

2015 SESSION

15-0479

05/06

HOUSE BILL 375

AN ACT relative to providing information about effective forms of child discipline to parents.

SPONSORS: Rep. Berrien, Rock 18; Rep. Borden, Rock 24; Rep. Heffron, Rock 18; Rep. C. Chase, Ches 8; Rep. Shepardson, Ches 10; Rep. DeSimone, Rock 14; Rep. Gargasz, Hills 27

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This bill requires school districts and state agencies that offer parenting education programs to include instruction promoting effective forms of child discipline and describing the deleterious effect of corporal punishment on child behavior and development.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

15-0479

05/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen

AN ACT relative to providing information about effective forms of child discipline to parents.

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

1 New Paragraph; State Board of Education; Instruction Promoting Effective Forms of Child Discipline. Amend RSA 186:11 by inserting after paragraph XXXVI the following new paragraph:

XXXVII. Instruction Promoting Effective Forms of Child Discipline. Direct the department, in consultation with the university system of New Hampshire, the community college system of New Hampshire, and the department of health and human services, to develop or adopt broad pedagogical approaches and strategies regarding effective forms of infant, child, and adolescent discipline and identifying the deleterious effects of corporal punishment on child behavior and development.

(a) Each school district and state agency, including the university system of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire, that offers a parenting education program shall use the pedagogical approach and strategy adopted by the department to provide instruction promoting effective forms of infant, child, and adolescent discipline and identifying the deleterious effects of corporal punishment on child behavior and development.

(b) In this paragraph, “parenting education program” includes all formally developed plans intended to inform students, prospective parents, and parents of the effective and healthy methods for raising infants, children, and adolescents.

(c) Nothing in this paragraph shall require a school district or state agency to offer a parenting education program.

2 New Paragraph; Commissioner of Health and Human Services; Instruction Promoting Effective Forms of Child Discipline. Amend RSA 126-A:5 by inserting after paragraph XXVII the following new paragraph:

XXVIII. The commissioner shall require that any parenting education program offered by the department or a private organization that contracts with the department include instruction promoting effective forms of child discipline, in accordance with RSA 186:11, XXXVII.

3 University of New Hampshire, Promoting Effective Forms of Child Discipline; Reporting Requirement. The university of New Hampshire, family research laboratory shall provide a synopsis of the scientific basis in support of effective forms of child and adolescent discipline. The synopsis shall be submitted to the board of education by November 1, 2015 to assist in the development of the instructional program required under RSA 186:11, XXXVII.

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