nhsba

Legislative Bulletin

January 7, 2011

Welcome Back to Another Legislative Session with Education Updates from NHSBA

The 2011 Legislative Session is now underway.
Both the NH House and Senate have convened and organized for the 2011 session.  Committee work is underway and hearings on bills have also begun, with several hearings on proposed legislation scheduled for next week.  Governor Lynch's inauguration was held on Thursday as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Linda Dalianis, swore him in.  During the Governor's inaugural address, he noted his desire to introduce a constitutional amendment this session to allow more flexibility in how the state responds to the Claremont and Londonderry decisions.
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House Education Committee
The House Education Committee is chaired by Representative Michael Balboni of Nashua.  The Vice Chairman is Representative Ralph Boehm of Litchfield.  Also on the Education Committee are Representatives Karen Hutchinson (r, Londonderry) Rick Ladd (r, Haverhill) Joseph Fleck (r, East Wakefield) Jeffrey St. Cyr (r, Alton) Charles Brosseau (r, Campton) Robert Greemore (r, Meredith) Gregory Hill (r, Northfield) J.R. Hoell (r, Dunbarton) Laura Jones (r, Rochester) Kathleen Lauer-Rago (r, Franklin) Joseph Pitre (r, Farmington) Mary Gile (d, Concord) Barbara Shaw (d, Manchester) Mary Gorman (d, Nashua) and June Frazer (d, Concord).
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Senate Education Committee
The Senate Education Committee is chaired by Senator Nancy F. Stiles, of Hampton.  The Vice Chairman is Senator James R. Forsythe, of Strafford.  Also on the Education Committee are Senators Sharon M. Carson of Londonderry, Molly M. Kelly of Keene, and Russell E. Prescott of Kingston.


The House and Senate Education and Finance Committees will be meeting jointly next Thursday to receive informational briefings from the Department of Education and other agencies.
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"Evergreen" Repeal - NHSBA Priority Bill Scheduled for next Tuesday
SB 1 repeals a statutory provision requiring automatic continuation of "any pay plan" in public employee collective bargaining agreements that are at impasse.  This bill repeals the language adopted in 2008 with the passage of HB 1436. That bill put in statute a provision for the continuation of the terms of a collective bargaining agreement if an impasse between public employers and employees is not resolved.  It requires the continuation of "any pay plan" in a contract after its expiration when a new contract has not been settled.  This bill reflects a specific NHSBA Resolution adopted by the NHSBA Delegate Assembly.
SB 1 is scheduled for a public hearing before the Senate Public and Municipal Affairs Committee next Tuesday, January 11 at 10:00 in room 100 of the State House.

ACTION ITEM
Please contact your senator as well as members of the Senate Public and Municipal Affairs Committee (Chairman, Senator Jack Barnes; Vice Chair, Senator Jeanie Forrester; also Senators David Boutin, Amanda Merrill, and Nancy Stiles), expressing your support for this bill.  Repeal of the 'evergreen statute' will prevent the implementation of pay raises without local voter approval.  The evergreen provision has fostered a more adversarial bargaining process leading to more impasses, with no incentive for labor to bargain a new contract when automatic pay increases are guaranteed.  There are many reasons for impasse at the local level, including those contracts rejected by vote of the legislative body at a district meeting; the evergreen statute requires that employee raises be provided in such instances.  During these tough economic times, unions will have little incentive to negotiate when they are assured that salary increases are forthcoming.  Urge your senator to support passage of SB 1 and repeal the evergreen law.
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NHSBA Delegate Assembly - Saturday, January 15, 2011
Be sure to mark your calendar now for the 2011 NHSBA Delegate Assembly on Saturday, January 15th, at the Local Government Center in Concord, NH.
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For the complete text of any bill, go to the general court web site and enter the bill number, e.g. SB1, HB34 or CACR3 (no spaces!), and make sure the Session Year is 2011.

For more information on specific legislation, please call Dean Michener, NHSBA Director of Governmental Affairs at 603-228-2061, or email: [email protected].


Dean Michener
NHSBA Director of Governmental Affairs