Public Higher Education Study Committee

187-A:26   (Repealed)

187-A:26-a   (Repealed)

187-A:27   (Repealed)

187-A:28   (Repealed)

187-A:28-a   Public Higher Education Study Committee. Educational opportunity in New Hampshire must involve all the components of education. The general court acknowledges that education does not start or end at any particular point. There is hereby established a permanent public higher education study committee for the state of New Hampshire. The study committee shall be composed of 8 members and shall examine the goals, purposes, organization, and financing of public higher education in New Hampshire, and shall evaluate and make recommendations on the university of New Hampshire, Plymouth state university, Keene state college, and the community college system of New Hampshire.

187-A:28-b   Membership. The committee shall be appointed as follows: 3 senators, including the chairperson of the senate education committee and a member of the senate finance committee, by the president of the senate; 5 representatives, including the chairperson and at least 2 other members of the house education committee and a member of the house finance committee, by the speaker of the house of representatives. The chair of the study committee shall rotate biennially between the chairperson of the house education committee and the chairperson of the senate education committee. A member shall only serve while a member of the general court. The members shall not be entitled to any salary but are entitled to reimbursement for mileage and other expenses incurred in carrying out their duties. The committee may hire necessary consultants and professional or clerical personnel.

187-A:28-c   Duties.

I.   The committee shall study, among other things, the following:

(a)   The operation of public higher education.

(b)   The goals and purposes of public higher education.

(c)   The organization of public higher education.

(d)   The size of public higher education.

(e)   The financing of public higher education.

(f)   Any other areas which will act as a guide to the legislature and trustees in formulating policies for the future.

(g)   The economic effects of student activities on higher education campuses as reported in studies by the university system of New Hampshire and municipalities. The committee shall study possible solutions and recommend legislation. Possible solutions for the committee to study include payments to the municipalities by institutions of higher education in lieu of taxes; additional fees or assessments; and any other remedy suggested by the municipalities affected by higher education campuses.

I-a.   In addition to the duties set forth in paragraph I, the committee shall study the feasibility of granting state franchise rights to the providers of on-line education courses which may include but is not limited to, the institutions of the university system of New Hampshire and the regional community-technical college system. The committee may consult with any individual or organization with information or expertise relevant to this aspect of the committee's duties.

II.   The committee shall act as liaison between the university system, the regional community-technical colleges, the general court, and the public to promote better understanding and communications between public higher education, the general court, and the public.

III.   The committee shall hold at least 4 meetings per year to be called by the chairperson.

187-A:28-d   Report and Recommendations. The committee shall submit a report to the general court by January 15 of each year. Copies of the report shall be submitted to the governor and council, the senate finance and education committees, the house of representatives finance and education committees, the board of trustees of the university system, the commissioner of the regional community-technical college system, and to any other individual or organization as the committee deems advisable.