Merit Institute Merit

The New Hampshire Merit-Based Credentialing Act (NH-ACSA)

New Hampshire state companion to ACSA. Extends NH universal occupational-licensure recognition under RSA 332-G, NH Employment Security / Department of Business and Economic Affairs frameworks, and the NH Business Enterprise Tax / Business Profits Tax credit regime.

THE NEW HAMPSHIRE MERIT-BASED CREDENTIALING ACT (NH-ACSA)

Vehicle: State passage. New Hampshire General Court, regular session. Primary referral to House Commerce and Consumer Affairs / Ways and Means and Senate Commerce / Ways and Means.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “New Hampshire Merit-Based Credentialing Act (NH-ACSA).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Court finds that New Hampshire enacted universal occupational-licensure recognition under RSA 332-G; that the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) operates under RSA 188-F; that the University System of New Hampshire operates under RSA 187-A; that NH Employment Security operates under RSA 282-A; that the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs administers economic-development programs under RSA 12-O; that RSA 77-E (Business Enterprise Tax) and RSA 77-A (Business Profits Tax) provide tax credits including the research and development credit under RSA 77-A:5 XIII; and that New Hampshire has no broad-based personal income tax or general sales tax. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH NEW HAMPSHIRE LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “New Hampshire Recognized Merit Credential” or “NHRMC” means a competency-based credential designated by the Commissioner of Education in coordination with the CCSNH Chancellor under Sec. 201.
  2. (b) “Federal FRAC” means a Federally Recognized Alternative Credential under Section 202 of the federal ACSA.
  3. (c) “CCSNH industry credential” means a credential recognized through the Community College System of New Hampshire.
  4. (d) “Covered State licensing authority” means an agency issuing an occupational license under RSA Title XXX.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing New Hampshire Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • RSA 332-G (universal licensure recognition); RSA Title XXX generally.
  • RSA 188-F (CCSNH); RSA 187-A (University System).
  • RSA 282-A (NH Employment Security).
  • RSA 12-O (Department of Business and Economic Affairs).
  • RSA 77-A (Business Profits Tax); RSA 77-E (Business Enterprise Tax); RSA 77-A:5 XIII (R&D credit).
  • RSA 21-I (personnel system; state employment).

TITLE II — NEW HAMPSHIRE RECOGNIZED MERIT CREDENTIALS

Sec. 201. Designation Authority

  1. (a) The Commissioner of Education, in coordination with the CCSNH Chancellor, shall maintain a New Hampshire Recognized Merit Credentials registry (“NHRMC Registry”) in machine-readable form, updated at least annually, crosswalked to Federal FRAC.

Sec. 202. Degree-Optional State Employment

  1. (a) RSA 21-I (Department of Administrative Services; personnel system) shall be applied so that an NHRMC-holder satisfies any position qualification stated in terms of a college degree, unless expressly required by New Hampshire statute.

TITLE III — TAX INCENTIVE FOR SKILLS-BASED HIRING

Sec. 301. New Hampshire Skills-Based Hiring Business Profits Tax / Business Enterprise Tax Credit

  1. (a) A new credit is added to RSA 77-A and RSA 77-E equal to a percentage of qualified first-year wages paid to a New Hampshire-domiciled employee whose qualifying pathway is an NHRMC or Federal FRAC. Because New Hampshire imposes no personal income tax, the credit operates against BPT / BET liability.
  2. (b) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45AA; annual cap in the state budget.
  3. (c) NH Department of Revenue Administration administers consistent with RSA 77-A:5 XIII R&D credit mechanics.

TITLE IV — OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE PORTABILITY

Sec. 401. Licensure by Demonstrated Competency

  1. (a) A covered State licensing authority shall provide a demonstrated-competency pathway accepting an NHRMC, Federal FRAC, or examination-plus-supervised-experience.

Sec. 402. Interstate Recognition for Federal-Fund Recipients

  1. (a) A covered State licensing authority receiving Federal workforce funds under 29 U.S.C. Sec. 3161 et seq. shall recognize out-of-state holders, consistent with Section 401 of the federal ACSA and RSA 332-G.

TITLE V — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 502. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect July 1 of the year following enactment, except that Sec. 301 shall apply to tax periods beginning on or after January 1 of that year.

Canonical federal version: ACSA. Other New Hampshire bills: NH-MEWRA, NH-GT&P, NH-AI-Workforce.