Bill Text: NH HB76 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relative to tracking special education complaints.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 6-1-1)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-12-23 - Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration House Journal 2 [HB76 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2025-HB76-Introduced.html
HB 76-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0089
02/06
HOUSE BILL 76-FN
AN ACT relative to tracking special education complaints.
SPONSORS: Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17; Rep. Ball, Rock. 25; Rep. Cordelli, Carr. 7; Rep. Ankarberg, Straf. 7; Rep. Sabourin, Rock. 30; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9; Sen. Ward, Dist 8
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
This bill requires the department of education to establish and maintain a tracking system for all state complaints related to special education services, and issue an annual report summarizing the complaint data.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0089
02/
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to tracking special education complaints.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Special Education State Complaints and Findings; Complaint Tracking. Amend RSA 186-C by inserting after section 5 the following new section:
186-C:5-a Special Education State Complaints and Findings; Complaint Tracking.
I. The department shall establish and maintain a tracking system for all state complaints related to special education services. The tracking system shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:
(a) The date the complaint was filed.
(b) The complainant’s contact information.
(c) The respondent’s information, including the name of the public school involved in the complaint.
(d) The name of any law firm representing the school district in the complaint.
(e) A summary of the allegations.
(f) Key dates relevant to the complaint process, including acknowledgment, response, investigation, and resolution.
(g) Status updates throughout the investigation process.
(h) The outcome of the complaint, including findings of fact and any corrective actions required.
II. The department shall make available summaries of all state complaints and their outcomes on the department’s website within 30 days of the issuance of the final decision on the complaint to the complainant. The department shall redact all personally identifiable information (PII) related to students and complainants to ensure compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other state or federal privacy laws. The information shall be limited to:
(a) The dates the complaint was filed.
(b) A summary of the allegations.
(c) The findings of fact and conclusions reached by the department.
(d) Any corrective actions required or taken by the respondent.
(e) The name of the school district.
(f) The name of any law firm representing the school district.
III. The department shall publish an annual report by July 1st each year beginning in 2026. The annual report shall be made publicly available on the department’s website and provided to the office of special education advocate, state advisory council on the education of children with disabilities, and the chairmen of the house and senate education committees. The annual report shall summarize the state complaint data, including:
(a) The total number of state complaints filed in the previous calendar year.
(b) The number of complaints resolved, with details on the nature of the resolutions.
(c) An analysis of patterns or systemic issues identified through the complaints.
(d) The actions taken by the department to address any identified systemic issues.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect September 1, 2025.
25-0089
10/25/24
HB 76-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to tracking special education complaints.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2028.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education
