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Senator John Reagan has introduced an amendment to HB 356 (an unrelated bill that establishes a committee to study education funding and costs). This amendment, 2017-1236s, increases the role of the Commissioner of Education, giving Commissioner Edelblut unprecedented authority over a new plan to completely reorganize the Department of Education, and shifting responsibilities from Division administrators within the Department to the Commissioner.

The amendment changes the bills analysis from one that focuses on education funding and costs to instead read, This bill consolidates the duties of the divisions of the department of education into the office of the commissioner and authorizes the commissioner to transfer appropriations or transfer or reassigning personnel as the commissioner deems necessary.

Just a few of the changes that would result from the passage of amendment 2017-1236:

When is the public hearing on this amendment? The bill to which this amendment is attached has already had its public hearing. Even though this is a non-germane amendment (meaning that it is unrelated to the content of the HB 356), there is NO requirement that a public hearing be held on the amendment. That means that there is NO opportunity for the public to give input at a hearing on this amendment!!

So WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Notable Floor Votes The House is in session on Wednesday and has reserved Thursday for continued session if necessary. The Senate is in session onThursday.

House Votes: HB 1 and HB 2, making appropriations for the expenses of certain departments of the state for fiscal years ending June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2019.

Interested in Testifying at Committee Hearings? Well send you information on how to testify Click HERE to add your name to the list!

Want to write a letter, heres a Sample LETTER Dear Editor,

On March 16th, 2017 the New Hampshire Senate passed a bill to set up education freedom savings accounts that would give public dollars to private school tuition. This week, the same bill will be heard by the NH House Education Committee.

SB 193, one of the most radical school voucher bills we have ever seen in the New Hampshire legislature, would allow taxpayers dollars to go to religious schools and to parents who homeschool their children. It also funnels the funds through various non-profits, which inevitably raises more questions about where taxpayer dollars are going.

For such a horrendous bill, why arent more people talking about it? SB 193 has been drowned out in the press by numerous (also terrible) bills that roll back voting rights and focus on the upcoming budget.

Public schools are the center of our communities where students develop their civic identities and grow into active participants in our society and economy. Investing in public education means that we are telling each and every student in our state that they are valuable. A bill like SB 193 will send the opposite message.

We can not allow our States Republican leadership to play party politics in order to undermine our public schools.

Please email Erin Cotton, ecotton@nhdp.org, for more sample letters orfor suggestions and revisions on your own LTE!

Legislative Recap Week in Review Mar. 27th Mar. 31st Last week, the Senate passed SB 3, a bill aimed at targeting NH voters who are most vulnerable to attacks on voting rights. This bill will makeit more difficult forstudents, the elderly, and people of color to vote. Even worse, SB3 would force domestic abuse victims to seek the approvalof their abuser to be able to vote, by requiring a note from the landlord if they dont have a document with their name on it or, if they voted without identification, then a letter would be mailed to their home address requiring a victim to return to an unsafe environment. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 7, legislation to restrict access to food assistance services in New Hampshire. This bill restricts access to food stamps for those most in need in our state without saving New Hampshire a dime. Finally, the Senate passed HB 103. This billrequires signed parental permission for any course material that could be deemed objectionable directly targeting health courses and limiting comprehensive sex ed for New Hampshire students.

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