Bill Text: NH SB236 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Establishing a committee to study New Hampshire teacher shortages and recruitment incentives, and relative to defining secondary school grades for teacher loan forgiveness programs.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)
Status: (Passed) 2022-06-08 - Signed by the Governor on 06/07/2022; Chapter 0150; Effective 06/07/2022 [SB236 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2022-SB236-Amended.html
SB 236 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
4May2022... 0734h
2022 SESSION
22-2959
10/08
SENATE BILL 236
SPONSORS: Sen. Kahn, Dist 10; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Rep. Myler, Merr. 10; Rep. Heath, Hills. 14
COMMITTEE: Education
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a committee to study New Hampshire teacher shortages and recruitment incentives. This bill also provides that teachers of grades 7-12 shall be considered secondary school teachers for purposes of teacher loan forgiveness programs.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
4May2022... 0734h 22-2959
10/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study New Hampshire teacher shortages and recruitment incentives.
2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
II. The director of educator support and higher education, in the department of education, shall serve as an ex-officio, nonvoting member and professional support.
III. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
3 Duties. The committee shall:
I. Study New Hampshire teacher shortages since 2018 and expected retirements through 2026.
II. Identify strategies for attracting more qualified candidates into the profession to fill shortage areas with particular attention to attracting underrepresented minorities and filling positions in rural districts and districts with lower performance outcomes.
III. Evaluate recruitment incentives used in other states, such as loan forgiveness, housing assistance, tuition reimbursements, and scholarships to help fill shortages and consider how such incentives might be offered and funded in New Hampshire, such as upon initial licensure and employment in the state.
IV. Identify strategies for retaining currently licensed and practicing teachers.
4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the chairs of the education committee in both the house of representatives and senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2023.
6 Definition of Schools; Secondary School Grades; Teacher Loan Forgiveness Programs. Amend RSA 189:25 to read as follows:
189:25 Elementary School. An elementary school is any school approved by the state board of education in which the subjects taught are those prescribed by the state board for the grades kindergarten through 8 of the public schools. However, a separate organization consisting of grades 7 through 9, or any grouping of these grades, may be recognized as a junior high school and so approved by the board. Also a separate organization consisting of grades 4 through 8 or any grouping of these grades may be recognized as a middle school and so approved by the state board. Any elementary school may include a kindergarten program which, if it is provided, shall precede the other elementary grades. Provided, however, that for the purpose of eligibility for state or federal teacher loan forgiveness programs, teachers of grades 7 through 12 shall be considered teachers of secondary school.
7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
