Bill > HB510

This bill establishes due process rights for students, student organizations, and faculty members at New Hampshire's publicly funded colleges and universities when they face disciplinary proceedings. These proceedings, referred to as "disciplinary proceedings," are actions that could lead to suspension, expulsion, termination, or the loss of privileges. The bill mandates that individuals facing such actions are entitled to a hearing with specific protections, including at least seven days' written notice of allegations and violated rules, five days' advance notice of witnesses and evidence against them, the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a preponderance of the evidence, the right against self-incrimination (though an adverse inference may be drawn), the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses, the right to present a defense and call witnesses, an impartial hearing officer, the right to an advisor or legal representative at their own expense, a verbatim record of the hearing, and the right to appeal to a designated official who was not involved in the original proceeding. These rights apply before discipline is imposed, unless there's an imminent threat of harm, in which case immediate action can be taken followed by a hearing as soon as practicable. The bill also clarifies that while institutions can offer more protections, they cannot offer less than what is outlined, and for faculty members, any conflicting provisions in existing collective bargaining agreements will take precedence until the agreement expires, after which the bill's provisions will apply.

Budget and Finance, Education, Justice

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=599&inflect=2