SB 157-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2015 SESSION
15-0796
04/09
SENATE BILL 157-FN
AN ACT establishing a civics education requirement as a condition for high school graduation.
SPONSORS: Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Stiles, Dist 24; Rep. Weyler, Rock 13; Rep. Cordelli, Carr 4; Rep. Notter, Hills 21; Rep. Murotake, Hills 32
This act establishes a civics education requirement as a condition for high school graduation or its equivalency.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
15-0796
04/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen
AN ACT establishing a civics education requirement as a condition for high school graduation.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 School Boards; Instruction in National and State History and Government. Amend RSA 189:11 to read as follows:
189:11 Instruction in National and State History and Government; Civics Instruction.
I. In all public and private schools in the state there shall be given regular courses of instruction in the history, government and constitutions of the United States and New Hampshire, including the organization and operation of New Hampshire municipal, county and state government and of the federal government. Such instruction shall begin not later than the opening of the eighth grade and shall continue in high school as an identifiable component of a year’s course in the history and government of the United States and New Hampshire.
II. In all public high schools in the state, including public academies, chartered public schools, and high school level home education programs, all students shall, as a condition for graduation or equivalency, achieve a passing grade on the United States Citizenship Civics test, produced by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. A minimum score of 60 percent shall be considered a passing grade. High school students may take the test as many times as necessary to fulfill the requirements of this paragraph.
2 Applicability. The provisions of this act shall only apply to freshmen scheduled to graduate in June of 2019 and thereafter.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
LBAO
15-0796
01/10/15
SB 157-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT establishing a civics education requirement as a condition for high school graduation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Education states this bill, as introduced, will increase state expenditures by $675,000 in FY 2016 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on state, county, and local revenues or county and local expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Education states this bill establishes a high school graduation requirement that all students, in public schools, public chartered schools, and high school level home education programs, pass the United States Citizenship Civics test, produced by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. The Department of Education states the test and study guide cost $45 per student. The Department assumes the State would pay for the testing costs of the approximately 15,000 students that graduate annually. Therefore, the Department states this bill will increase state expenditures by $675,000 ($45 * 15,000 = $675,000) in FY 2016 and each year thereafter.