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Senate Begins Work on State Budget
With the House passage of a state budget (see last week's Bulletin), the Senate now begins work reviewing the House proposal and reviewing revenue estimates. The Senate Finance Committee met with House Finance Committee leaders to better understand their recommendations, and was briefed by Legislative Budget Assistant staff on details of the House budget. The committee has also scheduled agency presentations to explain department budget requests.
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SB 2 - Technical Correction to Local Tax Caps
SB 2 addresses the calculation of a local tax cap. The bill provides that for districts adopting a local tax cap under RSA 32:5-b, determination of the amount of local taxes to be assessed and raised for the next year shall not include any fund balance brought forward from the previous year. This bill represents the "permanent fix" to the problem faced earlier this year by the only school district to adopt a tax cap: the Newfound Regional School District. NHSBA worked with legislative leaders to address specific legislation that was adopted for Newfound and offered testimony at the House public hearing in support of the permanent fix in SB 2, which will ensure any district adopting a local tax cap will not meet with the same problem in the future. The House Municipal & County Government Committee hearing was this week, and committee members are scheduled to vote on a recommendation for the bill next Tuesday, April 16.
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HB 370 -Repeal of the Education Tax Credit Program: Senate Vote Next Thursday
HB 370 repeals the statutes enacted last year with the passage of the Education Tax Credit Program. The Senate Health, Education & Human Services Committee voted 3-2 to recommend ITL (Inexpedient to Legislate), recommending the bill be killed and that the education tax credit program continue. NHSBA provided testimony in support of the repeal. The Education Tax Credit law diverts money from the state general and education trust funds, re-directing it to individuals to support their personal choices, violating our state's tradition of never allowing public funds to be utilized for private purposes. This is undeniable; without a tax owed to the state, there would be no 'credit' to offer. The Committee's recommendation is scheduled for consideration by the full Senate when it meets next Thursday, April 18.
ACTION ITEM
Please contact your local senator and convey your support for this bill. NHSBA Perennial Resolutions I:A and I:B oppose any efforts to subsidize private, religious or home schools with public tax dollars. Tax credits will only result in less revenue for the state despite the lack of resources to meet current obligations. The program "recaptures" state adequacy aid to locals, thus increasing the local property tax and relying on local funds to promote a state policy initiative. The state should not be diverting money from the state and local districts for private school purposes. Local districts will see little or no reduction in their expenses and fixed costs, yet will still be required to forfeit money in lost adequacy funds. The reduction in state revenues will only make it harder for the state to pay the bills it owes, which are currently underfunded. Rather than diverting scarce tax dollars away from our public school classrooms, and arguably for unconstitutional purposes by paying tuition at religious schools, NHSBA urges the legislature to support repeal of this program and focus on supporting improvements in our public schools and meeting current funding obligations, benefitting the vast majority of our children.
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HB 364 - Required Notice to Existing and Prospective Part-time Employees
NHSBA offered testimony in opposition to HB 364, requiring employers to provide written notice of the hourly limitations on part-time employment AND the "potential effect that exceeding such hourly limitations could have on the retired member's retirement benefits." Notice must be given annually to each existing part-time employee who is a retired member of NHRS, as well as to any prospective employee who is a retired member of NHRS. The bill also states that employers who provide such notice "shall not be held liable for any consequences to the employee resulting from the employee's restoration of service due to exceeding the hourly limitations..." This new mandated requirement to provide the potential financial effect is highly speculative, and more appropriate for personal financial planners, not school district administrators. Furthermore, it is unclear what would constitute proof of such notice when an individual employee claims the notice was not provided. Finally, school districts are aware of the hours worked by their own staff, but are unaware if an individual chose to seek additional part-time employment in another district, with the combined hours exceeding the maximum allowed. Following testimony this week, the bill remains under review and consideration by the Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee.
ACTION ITEM
Please contact your local senator and members of the Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee to convey your opposition to this bill. It should not be assumed that school districts are always aware of any other additional part-time jobs an employee may pursue. Retirees need to plan for their retirement and be aware of rules and regulations governing possible work commitments, including social security limitations as well as NHRS. A simple annual notice by NHRS, provided to all retired members of the system, will meet the concerns and intent of this legislation.
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HB 260 - Children in Need of Services (CHINS) - and SB 129
HB 260 expands the definition of a child in need of services under RSA 169-D and revises the circumstances under which the court may order various services or placements. The bill also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to collect certain data regarding the CHINS program and provides for the suspension of voluntary services if appropriated funds will be insufficient to support voluntary services for the remainder of the biennium. Unfortunately, the bill also includes overly prescriptive provisions relative to local board truancy policies. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing before the Senate Health, Education & Human Services Committee next Tuesday, April 16, at 9:30 in 103 of the LOB.
SB 129 contains similar CHINS provisions, expanding the definition of a child in need of services under RSA 169-D and revising the procedure for filing a CHINS petition and the circumstances under which the court may order various services or placements. It also includes the same prescriptive provisions relative to local board truancy policies, as well as establishing a committee to study and develop a program to address children in need. The Committee's report is due on or before November 1, 2013. SB 129 has a public hearing before the House Children and Family Law Committee next Tuesday, April 16 at 10:00 in 206 of the LOB.
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