Press Releases

June 15: BILL TO PROTECT KIDS FROM CYBERBULLYING SIGNED INTO LAW

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Contact: Senator Sylvia Larsen

(603) 271-2111

BILL TO PROTECT KIDS FROM CYBERBULLYING SIGNED INTO LAW

CONCORD – Senators celebrated alongside children and parents today as Governor John Lynch signed into law a bill requiring schools to have strong policies against bullying and modernizing the law to cover cyberbullying.

“I co-sponsored the first law requiring schools to have policies against bullying, which became a model for other states. At that time, few people carried cell phones, texting was nonexistent and kids didn’t talk to each other over the Internet. It is an important update to this law that we recognize cyberbullying. Today’s bill signing also is an important re-statement of our commitment to safe learning environments for our children,” said Senate President Sylvia Larsen, (D-Concord) who was joined at the bill signing by Hopkinton students who are part of an anti-bullying group “Team for Tomorrow” at the Maple Street School.

House Bill 1523 updates existing state law that requires schools to have policies against bullying and adds a new definition for cyberbullying that addresses bullying through the use of electronic devices including but not limited to “telephones, cellular phones, computers, pagers, electronic mail, instant messaging, text messaging and web sites.”

The enhanced anti-bullying legislation also requires school districts to educate staff and volunteers so they can recognize and address bullying. The Department of Education will be available to assist local schools and will prepare an annual report of substantiated reports of bullying or cyberbullying for the legislature.

“It is the intent of House Bill 1523 to ensure that students feel both safe and secure and know that they will be protected in the event that they are bullied.” said Senator Molly Kelly (D-Keene), chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee, who was active in developing the legislation.

The updated anti-bullying legislation grew out of the efforts of a committee that drew from the expertise of many parents, students, administrators, lawmakers, pediatricians, child advocates and student groups like Bully-Free New Hampshire.

“This was truly a collaborative effort,” Senator Amanda Merrill (D-Durham) said today. Vice-chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee, she extended a special thank-you to all the young people who were brave enough to testify before lawmakers about their experiences being bullied and how that had affected their schooling.
BILL TO BENEFIT SMALL BUSINESSES HEADS TO GOVERNOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Contact: Senator Lou D’Allesandro
(603) 271-2600

BILL TO BENEFIT SMALL BUSINESSES HEADS TO GOVERNOR

CONCORD – The vote of the House and Senate today sends to the governor some much needed legislation to bring greater clarity to the deduction business owners can claim for their personal services.

“This restores New Hampshire’s enviable business climate. It brings clarity to our definition of reasonable compensation and allows us to move back into the top-tier as a business-friendly state,” said Senator Lou D’Allesandro (D-Manchester), who urged passage of the legislation.

House Bill 1607 adopts federal standards in defining what constitute reasonable compensation – the payment that a business owner can claim for his or her own services to the business and thus deduct against the business profits tax. The longstanding federal law and rulings under IRS Code Section 162(a)(1) of what constitute ordinary or reasonable will be applied to New Hampshire businesses.

“This provides greater clarity and should mean fewer audits since business owners will have the guidance they need to appropriately claim a deduction for their services,” said Senator Harold Janeway (D-Webster).

The lack of clarity had led to a significant increase in the number of businesses that were being audited in recent years by the state Department of Revenue Administration over the deduction for reasonable compensation. Business owners and lawmakers were eager this year to get a better definition to deal with the problem.

Several senators expressed dismay that the final version of House Bill 1607 did not include a repeal of the interest and dividends tax on limited liability companies but urged the Senate to support the bill anyway.

“This is still an extremely important bill for our small businesses,” said Senator Bob Odell (R-Lempster).

Senators pledged to continue to work for the repeal of the so-called LLC tax.

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SENATE BILL ON HEALTH CARE COST CONTAINMENT HEADS TO GOVERNOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 14, 2010
Contact: Senator Maggie Hassan

(603) 271-2111

SENATE BILL ON HEALTH CARE COST CONTAINMENT HEADS TO GOVERNOR

CONCORD – The Senate voted last night to concur with the House on legislation creating a Commission on Health Care Cost Containment, sending the bill to the governor for signature.

The commission proposed in Senate Bill 505 is charged with looking at the health care reimbursement system, including the impact of federal health care reform, options for implementing a common payment system and ways to encourage the use of incentives to improve quality and efficiency.

“This commission will do the research and data analysis required so that state policy makers can understand what’s driving our health care costs and what we can do to contain them without affecting quality. New Hampshire ranks 48th highest out of 50 states in premium costs for family coverage and costs continue to rise faster than family income. This is not sustainable for our families or our businesses,” said Senator Maggie Hassan (D-Exeter), the leading sponsor of Senate Bill 505.

Goals of the commission include finding ways to promote competition in health insurance, reduce or eliminate payment differentials, ensure access, fairly allocate the burden of charity care, promote public access to cost information and contain the increase in health care costs.

The costs of the Commission on Health Care Cost Containment would be covered by a one-time assessment, with half paid by insurers and the other half paid by hospital and ambulatory surgical centers in proportion to their net operation revenue.

The House made a couple of changes to the bill -- expanding the commission’s membership from seven to 11 members by adding several public members, including a representative of small business. It also gives the commission more time to issue its report – setting the reporting date at July 1, 2012 instead of Nov. 1, 2011.

“These are positive changes and I’m pleased that the state is moving forward to contain health care costs,” Hassan said.

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SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE NEW JOBS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Contact: Senator Maggie Hassan

(603) 271-2111

SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE NEW JOBS

CONCORD – The Senate voted unanimously today in favor of a bill to implement “New Hampshire Working,” an initiative designed to preserve and promote new jobs. Senate Bill 501 heads now to the Senate Finance Committee for review.

“Today New Hampshire has over 50,000 unemployed citizens receiving approximately $10 million a week from the unemployment trust fund. The three components of this bill will help to ensure New Hampshire workers and businesses are given every possible tool to allow employees to stay at work, return to work if previously laid-off, and increase their chances of landing a job,” said Senator Maggie Hassan (D-Exeter), the lead sponsor.

The legislation would allow existing businesses to scale back their operations without laying off workers. Companies and their workers could agree to reduced hours in place of layoffs and the state would make up part of the lost wages through unemployment benefits. This would reduce demand on the unemployment fund, allow employers to keep their best people and enable workers to maintain existing employment benefits such as health insurance.

Department of Employment Security Commissioner Tara Reardon said the program should reduce costs to the state’s unemployment compensation fund and promote job growth.

The legislation also calls for the Department of Employment Security to develop a system to assess the skills of unemployed workers and help them get skills or certifications that would make it easier for them to find work.

A third component does not require legislative action but it would allow newly hired workers to continue on unemployment for up to six weeks of on-the-job training. At that time, the employer would be able to decide if the worker had the skills needed to continue as a full-fledged employee.

“With many New Hampshire citizens on the brink of exhausting their long term unemployment benefits, it is imperative to move swiftly and forcefully on this piece of legislation that is a win-win for employers, taxpayers, and workers,” Hassan said.

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School Building Aid Interim Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, December 15, 2009 Contact: Senator Molly Kelly
(603) 271-4153

SCHOOL BUILDING AID COMMITTEE FINALIZES ITS INTERIM REPORT

CONCORD – The Committee to Study the School Building Aid Grant Program voted today to approve its interim report, which includes a recommendation that the Legislature temporarily suspend building aid after June 30 to provide time to develop new and more sustainable guidelines.

State grants to communities renovating or building new schools have grown by 150 percent in the last decade, from $18.5 million in 1999 to $46.2 million in the latest budget – an unsustainable trajectory according to the committee.

As a result, the committee is asking the Legislature to consider a temporary suspension of school building aid for new projects approved after June 30, 2010. The goal is to provide an opportunity for pending projects to get local approval before temporarily suspending the aid program. At the same time, the committee plans to continue to study the program and recommend changes.

“Growth of 150 percent is not sustainable in a state that does not have unlimited revenues. Yet we recognize the state has a role in helping communities provide their students with safe and serviceable public schools. We need to review the eligibility criteria to set clear objectives and to ensure the program is financially sustainable into the future,” said Senator Molly Kelly (D-Keene), who serves as chairwoman of the committee.

The committee is not proposing to change current grant allocations, recognizing that communities were counting on the state’s contributions when building projects were approved. In total, the state has obligations to pay just over $600 million for previously approved projects with an additional cost of $200 million for debt service.

The committee’s interim report also acknowledges that if a temporary suspension goes into effect, some accommodations may have to be made for school districts with safety issues.

The committee plans to meet again in January to continue its work.

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School Building Aid Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Contact: Senator Molly Kelly
(603) 271-4153

COMMITTEE CONSIDERS TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF SCHOOL BUILDING AID

CONCORD – State grants to communities renovating or building new schools have grown by 150 percent in the last decade, from $18.5 million in 1999 to $46.2 million in the latest budget – an unsustainable trajectory according to a legislative committee studying the issue.

The Committee to Study the School Building Aid Grant Program met today to discuss an interim report it plans to issue by Dec. 15. The report will include a recommendation that the Legislature consider a temporary suspension of school building aid for new projects approved after June 30, 2010. The goal is to give the committee more time to study and recommend changes to the program. A final committee report is due by Nov. 15, 2010.

“My committee members plan to review the eligibility criteria and recommend a redesign of the school building aid program with clear objectives and to ensure it is financially sustainable into the future,” said Senator Molly Kelly (D-Keene), who serves as chairwoman of the committee.

“The Committee’s research to date has led to a preliminary sense that schools in greatest need of repair, renovation or replacement do not sufficiently benefit from the existing program while schools in communities with greater local fiscal capacity are readily accessing the funds for building more elaborate and expensive schools. The Committee recognizes the need to revise eligibility criteria to be more fair and equitable to those schools and communities with the greatest need,” a draft of the interim report reads.

The committee is not proposing to change current grant allocations, recognizing that communities were counting on the state’s contributions when building projects were approved. In total, the state has obligations to pay just over $600 million for previously approved projects with an additional cost of $200 million for debt service.

The committee’s draft report also acknowledges that if a temporary suspension goes into effect, some accommodations may have to be made for school districts with safety issues. The committee is expected to approve a final version of its interim report on Dec. 15.

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Governor & Council Meeting

GOVERNOR & COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD SEPTEMBER 9 IN JAFFREY
All are welcome!

Friends of District 10:

I invite all of you to attend the upcoming Governor & Council meeting on Wednesday, September 9 at 10:00am. Please come to the Old Meeting House in Jaffrey Center, where Governor Lynch, our Executive Council and I will welcome you.

This is a valuable opportunity to experience the process in which we invest throughout the State. And because there are many items on the agenda, you can pick and choose those items that are of interest to you. Stay for some of the meeting, or all of it.

Most importantly, consider attending so you can become more familiar with how NH Government works.

And, as always, please contact me if you have any questions at (603) 271-4153.

Have a good week,
Molly
Real World Challenge!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, August 21, 2009 Contact: Senator Molly Kelly
(603) 271-4153

SENATOR KELLY SUPPORTS ENGINEERING PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS

CONCORD – Senator Molly Kelly (D-Keene) joined Governor John Lynch, educators and industry executives today to launch a program that will give New Hampshire students the opportunity to learn and apply engineering skills to solve a “real world challenge.”

New Hampshire has agreed to participate in a national program called the Real World Design Challenge -- giving high school teachers and students access to $1 million in engineering software as they compete to design a two-engine commercial jet with enhanced fuel efficiency. Last year, an all-girls team from Hawaii became the first winner in the program, now starting its second year with a new design challenge. This is the first year New Hampshire has participated.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to enhance learning opportunities and inspire our students to pursue careers in math, science and engineering. Our nation is a nation of problem-solvers and I see this as a way to develop the skills and stimulate more interest among young people in addressing the challenges facing our nation,” Kelly said.

“It’s exciting because students will have the opportunity to apply skills and compete with each other for the best solutions,” she added

Senator Kelly is chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee and a member of the Advanced Manufacturing Education Advisory Council. She recently attended an education conference in San Francisco on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

The state Department of Education will help enroll and support schools and teachers that choose to participate. Students and teachers involved in the program will have access to some of the same computer assisted design and modeling software used by professionals and access to mentors from industry, government and major universities around the country.

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NH Children WIN!!!!

Governor Lynch signs the vital bill sponsored by Senator Kelly ensuring an adequate education for New Hampshire's children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, July 14, 2009 Contact: Senator Molly Kelly

(603) 271-4153
EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

CONCORD – A multi-year legislative effort to reform the state system for funding public schools drew to a close today with the signing of legislation that will hold schools accountable for providing an adequate education.

“This important legislation represents the final piece of a three-year legislative effort to define, determine the cost and ensure accountability for delivering the opportunity for an adequate education under a ruling of the New Hampshire Supreme Court,” said Senator Molly Kelly (D-Keene), who sponsored Senate Bill 180.

“I am proud of the progress that has been made and I am honored to stand here with you today putting to rest decades of litigation,” she added.

Senate Bill 180 follows two years of work by lawmakers that included numerous forums around the state to gather input on what the state’s basic educational requirements should contain. In the first year, lawmakers spelled out the elements of an adequate education to include certain academic subjects and added a new statewide requirement for kindergarten.

Last year, lawmakers developed a funding plan that allocates aid based on such factors as the number of teachers needed for a given number of pupils, special education needs and the percentage of low-income students in a school.
“Now in Senate Bill 180 we’ve developed a sensible system to ensure that money is well spent and that our students are getting the opportunities they need to become educated and productive members of our society,” Kelly said.
She also praised the Legislature for its commitment to the new plan, increasing state aid to schools by $123 million over the next two years.

“Now, we have the opportunity to move forward, to continue to work together and to share creative ideas with renewed energy, moving education into the 21st century,” she said.
2008 Press Releases

Wednesday, March 5, 2008
SENATE COMMITTEE SUPPORTS EDUCATION COSTING PLAN
2007 Press Releases

Tuesday, May 29, 2007
AMENDMENT TO ADEQUACY DEFINITION ADDRESSES ENHANCED NEEDS

Tuesday, June 19, 2007
SENATORS CELEBRATE SIGNING OF RESTAURANT SMOKING BAN