Committee hears bill to give New Hampshire Department of Education subpoena power in educator investigations

House Judiciary Committee members heard testimony on House Bill 520, a proposal to authorize the New Hampshire Department of Education to issue subpoenas in investigations and adjudicatory proceedings under the educator code of conduct. Representative Lynn introduced the bill, saying it would let the DOE compel witnesses and documents both during investigations and at formal hearings.

Supporters said subpoena authority would help the department obtain records and evidence when school districts or other holders will not provide them. Diana Fenton, an attorney with the Department of Education, told the committee the department sometimes must lead investigations in older cases and has run into barriers obtaining district reports, citing a Concord criminal case where the department could not secure a copy of a district investigation report except to view it at an attorneys office. "It was very challenging to get a copy of that report," Fenton said, explaining the department needs a tool to ensure…