For parents of kids enrolled in K-12 NH schools, this is going to be a challenging, but memorable two weeks of remote learning. Homeschool families - please share tips and pointers!
What Happened Last Week:
HOUSE SESSION DAYS
The NH State House met Wednesday and Thursday last week to vote on all bills that needed to be approved before the 3/12 legislative deadline. It was a bit wild to be there from 9am Thursday to 4am Friday, but from my perspective it was better to vote on all the bills in one sitting rather than delaying to multiple follow-up sessions with the average age of State Representatives in NH being 62 years old.
HB1444, adopting the California Clean Air Act passed the House on a partisan vote, and is moving to the Transportation Committee - date TBD because the Legislature is shut down through March 20th.
HB1713, relative to continuing education requirements for child day care workers was tabled on the House Floor last week. This bill reduces the continuing education training hours required for child day care agency workers from the 18 hours, currently required in rules, to at least 6 hours. First aid, water safety (when applicable), and CPR training, all which can take up to six hours in the first year, do not count currently towards continuing education hours in NH. A compromise was reached with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to count first aid, water safety and CPR training courses towards the 18 hour training requirement. DHHS staff has committed to implement the compromise through the rulemaking process within the next few months. I will be watching this closely because a change to the DES rules is much simpler that a legislative fix, but only if/when it actually happens.
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The song my kids, Becca and George, are practicing. Note the Purel and Clorox references!
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN NH WITH CORONAVIRUS?
I've received emails asking what the NH Legislature is doing to address citizens concerns about the local economy, specifically people whose income and jobs impacted are impacted by reduced hours and pay. You should know that logistically, the quickest way to get relief to citizens is by the Governor's emergency declaration. Governor Sununu declared a State of Emergency and also declared that children enrolled in K-12 schools would be doing remote learning through April 4th. He has the authority and ability to issue additional emergency declarations to help people immediately.
The House cannot introduce emergency legislation, but the Senate can, so Senator Soucy has been working on an immediate and temporary paid family and medical leave bill, and also altering the rules for NH Unemployment Claims to assist people who have experienced reduced hours due to Coronavirus.
In MA, Governor Baker has announced a Small Business Relief Fund of $10M. Individual businesses under 50 employees can request up to $75K through the fund. This is being floated as an option using funds from the Rainy Day Fund for the greater than 50% of NH small businesses that are feeling economic anxiety right now. Personal note - as a self-employed architect/attorney, I currently have three design projects going on hold due to client concerns with the stock market, and the NH courts are closed for the next month. A Relief Fund could help entrepreneurs like me continue to pay the bills on time.
In Italy, all mortgages and debt collection have been frozen until the national crisis is over. This is also an option for NH citizens, and once again the quickest way to get it passed is through an Emergency Declaration by the Governor.
Mutual Aid is a hot topic on Social Media, and I encourage you to reach out to your community leaders if you have the ability to give back. This could be dropping off or preparing bagged lunches, donating goods to a distribution organization, providing free grocery shopping or meal pickup and delivery, or giving money to a food bank. We are fortunate to live in a time where communications to the public commons are just a few clicks away.
There are plenty of resources on the web for what to do with your K-12 kids during the day. As the daughter and wife of farmers, I'd like to encourage you all to plant a Victory Resilience Garden this spring. Seeds are not yet sold out at our local stores, and the weather is PERFECT this week for planning out your wish list for plants, tilling some rows, and planting. It's a kid friendly ongoing project, and you will have fresh veggies in 60-90 days if you start now.
OTHER NEWS
We're all going to be practicing some belt-tightening this month. If you're working from home and doing spring cleaning on your "breaks", consider donating to a Sharing, Buy Nothing, or Freecycle group to support your neighbors. If you feel like you are getting sick and have a fever, stay home and self-quarantine. Call your elderly neighbors and relatives to check in. For the next few weeks, there is no such thing as too many concerned phone calls.
Stay healthy and safe,
~Rebecca
I'm running for re-election this year. If you like what I'm doing on behalf of the Great State of NH, let me know. I can't do this without your support - DONATE HERE!
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