Committee Summary for Senate Education (02/04/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB99 00:03:09.879 - 8:02:25 AM	Public Hearing	relative to regional career and technical education agreements.	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025
SB102 00:56:36.680 - 8:55:52 AM	Public Hearing	making informational materials regarding type 1 diabetes available on the department of education website.	Ward, Ruth(R)[B-]2025
SB206 01:09:49.960 - 9:09:05 AM	Public Hearing	(New Title) requiring school districts and chartered public schools to adopt policies establishing a cell phone-free education.	Ricciardi, Denise(R)[B]2025
SB59 2024-0059s 01:43:28.440 - 9:42:44 AM	Executive Session	establishing a recruitment incentive program within the community college system for public safety communicators and dispatchers and making an appropriation therefor.	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025

SB99: Senator David Waters, District 4 Support00:03:09.879 - 8:02:25 AM; Senator David Waters introduced Senate Bill 99, aimed at enhancing access to Career and Technical Education (CTE) for students across New Hampshire. He highlighted the efforts over the past 12 years, particularly under Commissioner Adel, to increase CTE access through funding, tuition and transportation agreements, and sector partnerships with businesses. A tax credit program has also been established to encourage business involvement in CTE. The bill addresses issues with regional agreements, ensuring schedule conformity between sending and receiving schools to reduce student absences. It also aims to resolve seat allocation and scheduling conflicts by allowing students to take necessary courses at receiving schools, either part-time or full-time, and to have embedded credits count towards their required curriculum. Senator Waters emphasized the importance of providing equal access to CTE for all students, including those from non-public schools, and mentioned specific examples like Portsmouth Christian Academy in Dover and Tri-City in Dover. He concluded by expressing optimism about the bill's potential to increase student freedom and participation in CTE programs.
SB99: Senator Tim Lang, District 2, Lakes region, Campton and Thornton Information Only00:16:13.720 - 8:15:29 AM; Senator Tim Lang discussed the origins of the bill, which stemmed from a lawsuit challenging a previous law known as the CRT or anti-discrimination law. He noted that a court decision found section four of the bill to be ambiguous and in need of clarification. Originally, he intended to strike section four but has been working with the Department of Education to draft language that would clarify the law rather than simply removing the prohibition. He mentioned that he does not yet have the amendment ready but is expecting to have it soon and will submit it to the committee once available.
SB99: Senator Ward Support00:30:56.880 - 8:30:12 AM; Senator Ward introduced Senate Bill 102 FN, aimed at making informational material about type 1 diabetes available in schools. The bill focuses on educating families, parents, and school staff about the symptoms of type 1 diabetes, which predominantly affects young children but can also occur in adults following a severe viral infection. He highlighted the importance of early detection, mentioning a new blood test that can identify individuals at risk of developing type 1 diabetes before symptoms emerge. He also noted that several other states have already implemented similar educational programs in schools. Senator Ward emphasized the relevance of this bill for New Hampshire, which has a high prevalence of type 1 diabetes among individuals under 19, and expressed excitement about the potential for the bill to be supported by the Department of Education's website.
SB99: Diabetes Management Educator Support00:33:32.360 - 8:32:48 AM; The speaker, a former diabetes management educator, expressed support for the bill, emphasizing their personal interest in preventing type 1 diabetes and its complications. They highlighted the urgency and emergency nature of type 1 diabetes compared to type 2, noting that type 1 can lead to ketoacidosis quickly, which is a medical emergency. They clarified that while type 2 diabetes is more common and often develops slowly, the bill focuses on type 1 due to its immediate risks.
SB99: Senator Ward Information Only00:34:38.599 - 8:33:54 AM; Senator Ward discussed the policy change the bill would introduce, involving collaboration between the Department of Health and Human Services and the New Hampshire Department of Education. They clarified that the informational materials on type 1 diabetes would be in the form of links to existing resources. They also addressed a question about why the bill does not include type 2 diabetes, explaining that type 1's quicker onset and emergency nature make it a priority for immediate action.
SB99: Senator Information Only00:36:53.640 - 8:36:09 AM; The Senator raised a question about the scope of medical information that should be provided on the Department of Education's website. They suggested that if the state is creating a policy to provide medical information, it should consider including other public health issues and concerns relevant to children, such as childhood leukemia and vaccine schedules, to give parents a more comprehensive view of health concerns.
SB99: Senator Information Only00:37:58.839 - 8:37:14 AM; The Senator continued the discussion on expanding the scope of the bill to include other childhood diseases. They proposed an amendment to allow for cross-links to the Department of Health and Human Services, covering other significant childhood health issues, not just type 1 diabetes. They noted the importance of coordination between the Department of Education and Health and Human Services to implement such a policy effectively.
SB99: Senator Information Only00:40:12.520 - 8:39:28 AM; The Senator pointed out the existence of the Office of Health and Wellness within the Department of Education's Bureau of Student Wellness and Nutrition, which could easily adapt to include links to other health and nutrition resources outside of the Department of Education. This could serve as a potential avenue for implementing the bill's proposed policy.
SB99: Pam Denapoli, Manchester School District, New Hampshire School Nurses Association Support00:41:28.000 - 8:40:44 AM; Pam Denapoli, a school nurse from Manchester and representing the New Hampshire School Nurses Association, strongly supported the bill. She emphasized the critical role of school nurses in preventive health services and the rising incidence of type 1 diabetes among children. She detailed the symptoms, the importance of early diagnosis to prevent ketoacidosis, and the benefits of educational resources provided through the Department of Education to manage and educate about the disease. She also acknowledged the conversation within the association about including other childhood diseases in similar initiatives but saw this bill as a good start.
SB99: State Representative Hope Damon, Sullivan District 8 Support00:47:28.680 - 8:46:44 AM; Representative Hope Damon, also a retired diabetes educator, supported the bill and highlighted its requirement for school districts to inform their communities about type 1 diabetes resources available through the Department of Education. She explained the three stages of type 1 diabetes development, stressing the importance of early diagnosis to avoid life-threatening ketoacidosis. She also mentioned the availability of an autoantibody screening test for stage two and a medication to delay type 1 onset. She suggested expanding the bill to include type 2 diabetes due to its prevalence and the benefits of early diagnosis. She agreed with the idea of using the bill as an opportunity to create an information portal for other childhood diseases.
SB99: Andrew Serrano, Dartmouth Community, Dartmouth Diabetes Link Class of 20127 Support00:56:36.680 - 8:55:52 AM; Andrew Serrano shared his personal experience with type 1 diabetes, diagnosed at the age of 2. He highlighted the challenges faced by parents in managing the condition and the importance of early detection. He emphasized the necessity of this bill in empowering parents, schools, and communities with the knowledge to recognize type 1 diabetes symptoms early, preventing life-threatening emergencies and improving long-term care outcomes for children.
SB99: Cson Arry, Dartmouth College Class of 2028, Dartmouth Diabetes Link, Diabetes Leadership Council Support00:58:21.680 - 8:57:37 AM; Cson Arry recounted his personal journey with type 1 diabetes, diagnosed in 8th grade after experiencing severe symptoms. He stressed the importance of the bill in educating parents about the signs of diabetes before it develops, aiming to reduce the mental and physical toll of the disease and enhance the quality of life in New Hampshire.
SB99: Kakas Papasavas, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth Diabetes Link, Diabetes Leadership Council Support01:00:39.359 - 8:59:55 AM; Kakas Papasavas supported the bill, sharing his experience with type 1 diabetes and the fortunate early detection due to his father's medical knowledge. He highlighted the importance of screening siblings and the potential of the bill to raise awareness, increase early screening rates, and prevent severe complications. He also discussed the evolving management of diabetes and the benefits of early detection for clinical trials and better outcomes, suggesting inclusion of type 2 diabetes in the bill's educational scope.
SB99: Peggy Balboni, Representative Rockingham 38, Greenland, Northampton, Rye Support01:05:14.000 - 9:04:30 AM; Representative Peggy Balboni endorsed the bill, sharing her son's experience with type 1 diabetes, diagnosed after experiencing symptoms that were initially overlooked. She emphasized the bill's potential to provide educational resources to families, enabling them to recognize diabetes symptoms early, seek timely medical assistance, and prevent emergencies. She also suggested the bill could be an opportunity to inform parents and educators about other conditions, noting the significant role schools play in observing children's health.
SB102: Andrew Serrano, Dartmouth Community, Dartmouth Diabetes Link Class of 20127 Support00:56:36.680 - 8:55:52 AM; Andrew Serrano supported SB102 FN, emphasizing its role in preventing life-threatening emergencies by ensuring accessible and up-to-date information on type 1 diabetes in school districts. He highlighted the importance of early recognition for managing the condition effectively.
SB102: Cson Arry, Dartmouth College Class of 2028, Dartmouth Diabetes Link, Diabetes Leadership Council Support00:58:21.680 - 8:57:37 AM; Cson Arry supported SB102 FN, sharing his personal story to illustrate the critical need for early detection of type 1 diabetes. He emphasized how the bill would empower parents through education, reducing the impact of diabetes onset and improving the quality of life in New Hampshire.
SB102: Kakas Papasavas, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth Diabetes Link, Diabetes Leadership Council Support01:00:39.359 - 8:59:55 AM; Kakas Papasavas supported SB102 FN, stressing its potential to raise awareness, increase early screening, and prevent severe complications of type 1 diabetes. He also discussed the importance of including type 2 diabetes education and the benefits of early detection for clinical trials and better outcomes.
SB102: Peggy Balboni, Representative Rockingham 38, Greenland, Northampton, Rye Support01:05:14.000 - 9:04:30 AM; Representative Peggy Balboni supported SB102 FN, sharing her son's experience with type 1 diabetes to underscore the need for educational resources that help families recognize diabetes symptoms early. She highlighted the bill's potential to prevent emergencies and suggested it could also be used to inform about other conditions.
SB206: Denise Rardy, State Senator District 9, Bedford to Hinsdale Support01:09:49.960 - 9:09:05 AM; Senator Denise Rardy introduced SB206 FN, which aims to limit student cell phone use in public schools to improve educational outcomes and student well-being. She highlighted the negative impacts of excessive smartphone use, such as distraction and social anxiety, and emphasized the bill's flexibility in allowing schools to tailor policies to their needs while mandating collaboration with educators and parents. She also addressed concerns about the use of the word 'prohibit' in the bill, clarifying that it allows for exceptions and school-specific policies.
SB206: Barett Christina, New Hampshire School Boards Association Support01:15:01.199 - 9:14:17 AM; Barett Christina from the New Hampshire School Boards Association expressed support for the concept of SB206 FN, which aims to limit cell phone use in schools. Christina highlighted the need for flexibility in school board policies and mentioned other bills, such as House Bill 131 and House Bill 781, which address similar issues but with different approaches. They noted concerns about the prohibition language in the bill and the requirement for annual policy review, suggesting these might not be necessary. Christina emphasized the importance of parental involvement in policy development and referenced a sample policy from NHBA that includes communication devices beyond just cell phones. They also discussed a case study from Providence, Rhode Island, where a cell phone ban led to improvements in student behavior and academic performance. Christina concluded by offering NHBA's assistance in refining the bill's language.
SB206: Deborah House, American Federation of Teachers New Hampshire Support01:22:46.360 - 9:22:02 AM; Deborah House, President of the American Federation of Teachers New Hampshire, supported SB206 FN, emphasizing the need for distraction-free learning environments. She highlighted the challenges teachers face in managing cell phone use in classrooms and the addictive nature of these devices among students. House referenced research from Pew Research and Common Sense Media indicating high levels of smartphone usage and its impact on learning and student well-being. She suggested that the bill should allow for some flexibility in district policies and stressed the importance of consistent district-wide policies to support teachers in managing classroom distractions.
SB206: Brian Hawkins, NEA New Hampshire Support01:29:44.360 - 9:29:00 AM; Brian Hawkins from NEA New Hampshire supported SB206 FN, advocating for policies that limit cell phone use in schools to enhance student learning and growth. He presented data from a nationwide survey indicating the disruptive nature of cell phones and social media in schools, which leads to issues like cyberbullying and impeded social skill development. Hawkins noted that several states and large school districts have implemented similar restrictions and that NEA New Hampshire's survey found a desire for school-wide policies with parent and educator collaboration. He emphasized the importance of uniform and consistent policies across the entire school day and mentioned the positive impact such policies have had on school climate and student learning.
SB59 2024-0059s: Committee Members Information Only01:43:28.440 - 9:42:44 AM; The committee discussed Senate Bill 59, which aims to expand free community college courses to public safety communicators, including police, fire, and EMS. An amendment was proposed to transfer $100,000 from an existing $2 million fund allocated for the program, instead of seeking additional appropriation. This amendment would prevent any additional costs for the next two years, saving taxpayers $125,000. There was some confusion about the specifics of the fund transfer, particularly whether the funds would support police standards and training or also cover fire and EMS training. The committee decided to go into executive session to further discuss and vote on the bill with the amendment.
SB59 2024-0059s: Committee Members Information Only01:50:12.159 - 9:49:28 AM; The committee members discussed the funding of necessary materials for the police academy, which was intended to be covered by the original Recruitment and Retention program. They considered the amendment 2024-0059s and decided to vote on the underlying bill SB59 with the amendment. A motion was made to adopt the amendment, which was seconded and passed. The underlying bill with the amendment was also voted on and passed. The committee then moved to consent and decided to take the bill out of the executive session.
SB59 2024-0059s: Senator Ward Information Only01:52:31.960 - 9:51:47 AM; Senator Ward confirmed the completion of the discussion on SB59 and the executive session. The next meeting was scheduled for the following Tuesday to discuss bills related to food, pre-lunch, and breakfast. The session was concluded with a motion to come out of the executive session, which was seconded and passed.

Ward, Ruth(Chairman)(R)[B-]2025	Sullivan, Victoria(V Chairman)(R)[A-]2025	Prentiss, Suzanne(D)[F]2025
Altschiller, Debra(D)[CT]2025	Abbas, Daryl(R)[B-]2025