| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/11/2011 12:06:06 PM Home School Legal Defense Association URGENT ACTION Needed to Protect Your Family and Advance Freedom |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== URGENT ACTION Needed to Protect Your Family and Advance Freedom Dear HSLDA Members and friends, During two hours of hearing time this week dedicated to HB 301, there were many who spoke in favor of reducing regulations on homeschoolers and in favor of the bill. However, the debate over which approach to use in reforming the law has been confused with erroneous and misleading information. Some have even suggested that HB 301 would increase state control over parents who homeschool - a statement that is simply untrue. Misinformation like this jeopardizes the creation of a homeschool law that will be sustainable and effectively protect parents from state intrusions. Representative Laura Jones, the prime sponsor of HB 595, has been appointed to serve as the chair of a reviewing subcommittee. The subcommittee has been given two weeks to develop a bill that the Education Committee can pass to the floor of the House with a recommendation of "ought to pass" ("OTP"). While the appointment of Jones appears to pose a conflict of interest, creating the subcommittee is good news for homeschoolers. This shows that the legislature is serious about improving the homeschool law. The stakes are high, however, as a poorly written law based on HB 595 will leave the door open for the Department of Education to write rules and for social workers, truancy officers and the DCYF to intrude in your life more easily. Although both bills recognize the fundamental right of parents to direct the education of their children, and both remove the existing burdens on homeschoolers, important distinctions became clearer during this week's hearing. > HB 301 removes regulatory authority from the Department of Education. HB 595 retains that regulatory authority. > HB 301 provides the clearest and strongest due process protections for parents if they are ever challenged with violating the law. HB 595 creates a new untested procedure for a new "civil violation" while allowing the state authority to terminate a homeschooling program. > HB 301 leaves the compulsory attendance law alone, creating a simple one-time notice provision with no assessments, due process and privacy protections. HB 595 gets rid of the entire "home education" statute, 193-A, introducing new concepts like "parent-directed instruction" and rewrites the compulsory attendance law, 193-1, which affects all New Hampshire students. We are presented with a clear question: which approach will the committee adopt to move forward. Based on our experience in court cases and legislative battles, we are asking you to tell the subcommittee and others that HB 301 is the better approach. If you wish to learn more about the bills visit http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10275. In the meantime it is essential that you take action to communicate with this sub-committee. They need to hear from you. ACTION REQUESTED Please contact the members of this subcommittee as well as Education Committee Chair, Vice Chair and Clerk. Consider making the following points in a message in your own words. "I prefer HB 301 as the approach to reform the homeschool law RSA 193-A. > HB 301 gives me more freedom from unnecessary paperwork and bureaucracy while protecting my family from truancy officers and social workers. > I do not consider notification as seeking approval, and I do not object to a one-time notice to a participating agency. I think this might help avoid unnecessary contact with the state. > I do not trust the DOE to make rules for homeschoolers. HB 301 eliminates DOE's rulemaking authority but HB 595 allows them to make rules > I'm concerned that HB 595 is confusing and does not clearly protect my family from truancy officers, social workers or family court. HB 301, on the other hand, provides clear protections and reasonable standards. > I think HB 301 is a more reasoned approach that has a better chance of passing the whole legislature and being signed by the Governor into law." Representative Michael Balboni - Chair Phone: (603)598-3851 Email: michael.balboni@leg.state.nh.us Representative Ralph Boehm - Vice Chair Phone: (603)860-6309 Email: ralph.boehm@leg.state.nh.us Representative Rick Ladd - Clerk Phone: (603)989-3268 Email: ladd.nhhouse@charter.net Subcommittee Members: Representative Laura Jones Phone: (603)948-2264 Email: laurajonesnh@gmail.com Representative Joseph Fleck Phone: (603)522-6741 Email: joseph.fleck@leg.state.nh.us Representative Barbara Shaw Phone: (603)626-4681 Email: beshaw3@comcast.net Representative Joseph Pitre Phone: (603)755-2447 Email: jpitre@metrocast.net Please take a moment right now to call or email these representatives. Time is of the essence so please act now. You are also welcome to send us any responses to nh@hslda.org. Thank you for your support and for taking action! Very Truly Yours, Michael Donnelly HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Will your children's inheritance retain its value? If you pass on a legacy of freedom, your children and their children's children will thank you. But freedom is never secure; it must always be guarded. Membership with HSLDA is an investment in the future that can be passed on to future generations of families wanting to teach their children at home. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1944 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
