This bill proposes the establishment of a commission tasked with recodifying the education laws found within Title XV, Chapters RSA 186 through 200-N of the state statutes. The commission will consist of legislative members, the commissioner of the Department of Education or a designee, the director of legislative services or a designee, and an advisory panel including representatives from various educational organizations. The commission's duties include reviewing the content and structure of the education laws, identifying duplicative or contradictory statutes, and areas for consolidation, and drafting proposed legislation for recodification to be filed in the next regular legislative session. The commission is to report its findings and recommendations by September 30, 2026, and the bill includes provisions for the election of a chairperson, the establishment of a quorum, and the provision of technical and legal assistance by the Department of Education and the Office of Legislative Services.

The bill also appropriates a total of $200,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, to be divided equally between the Department of Education and the Office of Legislative Services for the purpose of engaging attorneys to assist the commission. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for these sums from the treasury. The bill specifies that the section establishing the commission will be repealed on November 1, 2026, and outlines the effective dates for various sections of the act. The fiscal note attached to the bill indicates that the state's expenditures may increase by up to $200,000 in FY 2025, with the source of funding being the General Fund. It is noted that it is unknown whether the appropriated amount will be sufficient to complete the recodification and that any unexpended funds will lapse to the general fund at the end of the fiscal period. The bill does not authorize new positions, and the fiscal impact on local and county entities is marked as none.

Statutes affected:
As Amended by the Senate: 17-A:9