SB341: relative to mandatory disclosure by school district employees to parents.

SB 341 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

04/05/2024 0786s

2024 SESSION

24-2832

02/05

SENATE BILL 341

AN ACT relative to mandatory disclosure by school district employees to parents.

SPONSORS: Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Gray, Dist 6; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Gendreau, Dist 1; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Abbas, Dist 22; Rep. Ladd, Graf. 5; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2; Rep. Packard, Rock. 16

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This bill requires all school employees to respond honestly and completely to written requests by parents regarding information relating to their children.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

04/05/2024 0786s 24-2832

02/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

AN ACT relative to mandatory disclosure by school district employees to parents.

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

1 Short Title. This act shall be known as the Honesty and Transparency in Education Act.

2 New Section; Communications Between Teachers and Parents. Amend RSA 189 by inserting after section 13-c the following new section:

189:13-d Communications Between Teachers and Parents.

I. Educators credentialed by the New Hampshire department of education shall have a duty to respond to written inquiries by parents regarding material information relating to their child enrolled in that educator’s school. Such response to a written request shall be sent within 10 business days of its receipt and be answered completely and honestly to the extent permitted by state or federal law.

II. If, in the good faith determination of the credential holder, such complete and honest response to a request would put the student at imminent risk of physical harm, abuse, or neglect, such credential holder shall file a report with the department of health and human services within 48 hours of such determination in accordance with RSA 169-C:30, and may withhold only the information that creates the risk.

III. On or before June 30, 2025, the state board of education shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, amending the code of ethics and the code of conduct for New Hampshire educators relative to this section.

IV. Violation of this section shall be considered a violation of the code of conduct for New Hampshire educators and subject to investigation, in accordance with administrative rules, against that credential holder.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.