Bill > HB178

This bill modifies a section of New Hampshire law (RSA 186-C:14-a) related to foster parents' representation of foster children with disabilities by removing a specific phrase about knowledge and skills from the existing statute. The proposed change eliminates language that previously required a determination that foster parents have the knowledge and skills to represent the child adequately in services. Instead, the bill simply allows the commissioner of education or a licensed child placing agency director to appoint foster parents to make educational decisions for a foster child during the placement period, without explicitly stating a requirement about the foster parents' representational capabilities. The modification appears to be a technical correction to clarify the statute's meaning, as noted in the government summary, and will take effect 60 days after passage. This change could potentially make it easier for foster parents to be appointed as educational decision-makers for foster children with disabilities by removing what might have been seen as an additional qualifying barrier.

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https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0159&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB178