Bill > HB431

This bill establishes a commission to study the costs of special education in public schools, aiming to understand how these costs are reported by school districts and to explore potential state revenue sources to reduce reliance on local property taxes for funding. The commission will be composed of legislative members, representatives from special education administration and advocacy groups, parents, and state education and health officials. It will investigate various aspects of special education, including referral rates, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on referrals, potential early interventions, the costs of services not considered medically necessary but required for a child's educational goals under an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan, and compare federal and state regulations. The commission will also examine local district reporting of costs, out-of-district placement expenses, dispute resolution effectiveness, the use of state funds, the Medicaid to Schools program, and the use of insurance for legal services, as well as graduation rates for students with disabilities. The commission is required to report its findings and recommendations by November 1, 2025, and a final report by July 1, 2026, after which the commission will be repealed.

Education

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=478&inflect=2