SB 157-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/12/2015 0677s
03/12/2015 0840s
2015 SESSION
15-0796
04/09
SENATE BILL 157-FN
AN ACT relative to encouraging high school students to take and pass a United States citizenship test.
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
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill encourages students in high school or equivalent to take and pass a United States citizenship test as a component of instruction in the history, government, and constitutions of the United States and New Hampshire.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/12/2015 0677s
03/12/2015 0840s
15-0796
04/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen
AN ACT relative to encouraging high school students to take and pass a United States citizenship test.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Legislative Purpose. In order to ensure that all New Hampshire high school graduates have a basic understanding of United States civics and history, and to promote and encourage active and engaged citizenship, the general court encourages all New Hampshire high school students to take a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) test based on that administered to all applicants for U.S. citizenship.
2 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.
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.(a) As a component of instruction under paragraph I, students shall be encouraged to take a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) test.
(b) The test shall be based on the 100-question test used by the USCIS and administered to all applicants for United States citizenship. Students taking the test will be tested on all 100 questions, and a score of 60 percent shall represent a passing grade. Students may take the test more than once and those students who attain a passing grade shall be eligible for a certificate issued by their school.
3 Applicability. The provisions of this act shall only apply to students eligible to receive a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate on or after January 1, 2016.
4 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.