HB1698: relative to equal access and opportunity for students with disabilities to participate in co-curricular activities and making an appropriation therefor.

HB 1698-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2020 SESSION

20-3098

06/01

HOUSE BILL 1698-FN

AN ACT relative to equal access and opportunity for students with disabilities to participate in co-curricular activities and making an appropriation therefor.

SPONSORS: Rep. Lang, Belk. 4; Rep. Mullen, Hills. 7; Rep. Pearl, Merr. 26; Rep. Panasiti, Hills. 22; Sen. Watters, Dist 4

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This bill requires the department of education to review the consolidated state plan biennially to ensure that school districts establish unified co-curricular activities and makes an appropriation for the purposes of the bill.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20-3098

06/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

AN ACT relative to equal access and opportunity for students with disabilities to participate in co-curricular activities and making an appropriation therefor.

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

1 New Paragraph; Department of Education; Duties of Commissioner. Amend RSA 21-N:4 by inserting after paragraph IX the following new paragraph:

X. Reviewing, at least every 2 years, and updating as necessary, the consolidated state plan to ensure that sufficient funds are used to encourage and establish unified co-curricular activities in schools that currently have no unified program.

2 Appropriation; Department of Education; Unified Co-Curricular Program Support; Periodic Review.

I. Beginning in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, the sum of $50,000 shall be appropriated annually to the department of education for distribution to school districts for the primary purpose of funding the initial expenses of establishing unified co-curricular activities in accordance with RSA 21-N:4, X. Any funds remaining within a fiscal year shall be distributed to school districts with existing unified co-curricular programs to fund operating costs. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

II. Beginning in fiscal year 2027 and every 5 years thereafter, the department shall conduct an efficiency review of the appropriation in paragraph I and shall make recommendations to the legislature as needed.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.

LBAO

20-3098

Revised 2/26/20

HB 1698-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to equal access and opportunity for students with disabilities to participate in co-curricular activities and making an appropriation therefor.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

FY 2023

Appropriation

$0

$50,000

$50,000

$50,000

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Expenditures

$0

$50,000

$50,000

$50,000

Funding Source:

[ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other

LOCAL:

Revenue

$0

$50,000

$50,000

$50,000

Expenditures

$0

$0

$0

$0

METHODOLOGY:

This bill, beginning in FY 2021, makes a $50,000 annual general fund appropriation to the Department of Education for the purpose of providing funding to school districts for the initial expenses of establishing unified co-curricular activities, and any unexpended funds in each year shall be disbursed to districts for operating costs of existing programs. It is assumed all $50,000 would be disbursed in each fiscal year, however the breakdown of funds that may be expended for new programs versus existing programs is unknown as this bill does not provide a method for how payments to districts shall be calculated.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Education