HB 1459 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

 

12Mar2020... 0282h

2020 SESSION

20-2448

06/01

 

HOUSE BILL 1459

 

AN ACT relative to non-academic surveys administered by a public school or a chartered public school to its students.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Horrigan, Straf. 6; Rep. Kenney, Straf. 6

 

COMMITTEE: Education

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill makes changes to the requirements for school district or chartered public school policies governing the administration of non-academic surveys or questionnaires.

 

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12Mar2020... 0282h 20-2448

06/01

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

 

AN ACT relative to non-academic surveys administered by a public school or a chartered public school to its students.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Duties of the State Board of Education; Non-academic Surveys or Questionnaires.  Amend RSA 186:11, IX-d to read as follows:

IX-d.  Require school districts and chartered public schools to adopt a policy governing the administration of non-academic surveys or questionnaires to students.  The policy shall require school districts and chartered public schools to notify a parent or legal guardian of a non-academic survey or questionnaire and its purpose by written notice given via the student.  In addition to the written notice, the school district or chartered public school may provide notice electronically.  [The policy shall provide that no student shall be required to volunteer for or submit to a non-academic survey or questionnaire, as defined in this paragraph, without written consent of a parent or legal guardian unless the student is an adult or an emancipated minor.]  The policy shall include an exception from the consent requirement for the youth risk behavior survey developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and surveys related to other prevention programs funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  [The policy shall also allow a parent or legal guardian to opt-out of the youth risk behavior survey developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.]  The school district or chartered public school shall make such surveys or questionnaires available, at the school and on the school, chartered public school, or school district's website, for review by a student's parent or legal guardian at least 10 days prior to distribution to students.  The policy shall also allow a parent or legal guardian to opt out of the non-academic survey or questionnaire either in writing or electronically.  In this paragraph, "non-academic survey or questionnaire" means surveys, questionnaires, or other documents designed to elicit information about a student's social behavior, family life, religion, politics, sexual orientation, sexual activity, drug use, or any other information not related to a student's academics.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.