nhsba

New Hampshire School Boards Association

Legislative Bulletin

February 8, 2013 

  

A Brief Summary of Education Issues at the State House  

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Governor's Budget Address

The House and Senate will meet in Joint Convention on Thursday for Governor Hassan's Budget Address. This will kick off budget discussions and formal budget deliberation, starting in the House Finance Committee, chaired by Rep. Mary Jane Wallner (d, Concord). Detailed discussion of funding for the Dept. of Education will take place within Division II of Finance, chaired by Rep. Dan Eaton (d, Stoddard).

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HB 178 - Binding Arbitration

HB 178, proposing binding arbitration based on both parties "last best offer", remains under review by a House Labor sub-committee. During deliberations, some members expressed an interest in beginning the process earlier to allow more time to reach agreement. Increasing the number of days given for notice of intent to bargain, currently set at "120 days before the budget submission date", may be considered by the sub-committee.

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Town Appointed School Board Member

HB 589 would enable the selectmen of a town to appoint a school board member. NHSBA provided testimony to the House Municipal & County Government Committee on the varied and complex organizational structures of school districts statewide, and that they are separate political subdivisions of the state. The bill is vague and leaves unanswered many details relative to cooperative school districts, elementary and/or secondary only districts, and city districts. Committee member's questions and comments indicated their understanding of these problems with the bill.

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NHRS and Part-time Employment

SB 132 changes the definition of part-time employment for purposes of membership in the retirement system. Current law does not allow employment to exceed 32 hours in any normal calendar week (with some exception). The proposed change would simply set a maximum of 1,600 hours in a calendar year. NHSBA provided testimony in support of the change, which allows more flexibility for local districts, especially with substitute teachers, bus drivers and other part-time staff. Union opposition addressed their belief that hiring part-time staff, who don't contribute to NHRS, will increase the unfunded liability. However, the NHRS actuary states, "it is reasonable to expect there would be minimal impact on employer contribution rates due to these proposed changes." Employers would continue to realize savings with part-time staff, and these positions would be significantly reduced if required to be filled by full-time personnel.

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HB 187 - Limitations on Amending Cost Item Amounts for Collective Bargaining Agreements

HB 187, specifically stating that no cost item agreed to by a public employer and an employee organization shall be modified by the legislative body, was unanimously supported by the House Labor Committee. NHSBA supported this proposal to ensure the school boards negotiated agreement is presented for a vote of the legislative body. The bill makes it clear that cost items must be accepted or rejected and may not be amended, since negotiated agreements are a total "package" of components, such as benefits and working conditions, as well as cost items. The House will consider the unanimous recommendation for passage when it meets in session next Wednesday.

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Senate Committee Fails to Support Management Rights Proposal in SB 37

The Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee voted unanimously to recommend Inexpedient to Legislate on SB 37, relative to management rights under collective bargaining. The proposed language affirms employer's rights regarding standards by updating RSA 273-a to reflect Supreme Court decisions and case law relating to non-mandatory subjects of bargaining. NHSBA supported this proposal that specifically acknowledges the public employer's right to determine standards for evaluation, standards for selection, layoff and retention, standards for discipline, and standards for assignment and transfer. The bill reflects the language of an NHSBA resolution adopted last month supporting local control and the managerial rights of governing bodies. The bill is scheduled for Senate consideration when it meets in session next Thursday.

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HB 435 - Increased Funding for Charter Schools

HB 435 removes the statutory provision for Adequacy Aid to charter school students, currently consisting of the Adequacy per pupil amount of $3,450 plus $2,000 for a total $5,450 per pupil. This amount would be replaced with funding at 50% of the state average per pupil cost, which was $13,159 last year. This increases the charter school funding amount to $6,580 per pupil, over a 20% increase and provides significantly more state aid per pupil to charter schools than received by other public schools.

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Legislation Considered Next Tuesday, February 12, 2013

 

HOUSE EDUCATION, Room 207, LOB

10:00 a.m. HB 533, establishing a 4-year high school mathematics graduation requirement.

10:30 a.m. HB 563, requiring that all payments for vocational education tuition and transportation costs made to a school district be used exclusively for the vocational education program.

11:00 a.m. HB 479, allowing for the creation of new school districts and the division of existing school districts into new districts, by written petition of 10 or more voters in the school district. It also allows a resident to disannex their taxable property for school tax purposes from the existing district to the new district.

 

HOUSE FINANCE, Rooms 210-211, LOB

10:00 a.m. SB 40, restoring the original level of funding for which school districts previously received notice and were anticipating as revenue this fiscal year (FY 2013). A full committee work session is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. following the hearing and the committee is scheduled to vote on a recommendation next Thursday, February 14.

 

Legislation Considered Next Thursday, February 14, 2013

HOUSE EDUCATION, Room 207, LOB

1:45 p.m. HB 626, prioritizing school building aid funds and requiring the commissioner of the department of education to assign a higher priority to school building aid proposals submitted by a school district for a high school in which accreditation is in a probationary status or has been revoked.

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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. HB142, and make sure the Session Year is 2013. 

 

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

Ted Comstock
NHSBA Executive Director
&
Dean Michener
NHSBA Dir. of Governmental Affairs