The bill establishes the New Hampshire Inclusive Higher Education Grant Program, designed to enhance educational opportunities for students with developmental disabilities at public higher education institutions. It mandates the Department of Education to oversee the program, which includes appointing representatives from the Bureau of Special Education Support to assist in administration. Key provisions require institutions to provide equal educational opportunities, access to campus life, and support for competitive employment. Institutions must adopt inclusive admissions standards, allowing participation from students without a high school diploma, and allocate 25% of grant funds for scholarships. The bill introduces a new section, RSA 186-C:12-a, detailing the program's establishment and administration.

Additionally, the bill creates the New Hampshire Inclusive Higher Education Grant Fund, funded through federal resources, private donations, and state appropriations, with an initial $100,000 appropriation from the general fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028. It includes new legal language for the establishment of the grant fund and the application of receipts, while deleting conflicting language in existing statutes. The Department of Education is tasked with adopting operational rules for the grant program, and the bill's fiscal impact remains indeterminable, contingent on institutional participation and grant proposal submissions. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 6:12
HB1791 text: 6:12