By COLIN MANNING

N.H. Statehouse Writer

CONCORD — The House passed a bill on Thursday that would make it easier to establish a charter school in New Hampshire.

Gov. Craig Benson has spoken in favor of the bill, which is identical to one that passed both the House and Senate last year only to be vetoed by then-Gov. Jeanne Shaheen.

"Guess what? We now have a governor that is willing to make charter schools work," said state Rep. John Alger, R-Rumney.

The measure passed by a vote of 242-121 on Thursday and will move to the House Finance Committee for review.

House Bill 135 would establish a 10-year pilot program for the state Board of Education to approve up to two charter schools a year. A law enacted in 1995 allows the creation of state charter schools once approved by local school districts, but in the eight years since, no charter schools have opened in New Hampshire.

Proponents of the measure say HB 135 strengthens the current charter school law by creating an alternative when starting up a charter school.

"Isn’t it about time we invigorate all public schools in the state? And one way to invigorate schools is to offer choice," said the bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. John Hunt, R-Rindge.

Under HB 135, state education aid would fund the charter schools. Also, in his proposed budget, Benson has appropriated $4 million to assist in the creation of charter schools.

But opponents say charter schools take away much needed money from other public schools and puts more of a burden on the taxpayer. Also, critics claim charter schools are not held to the same standards as other public schools.

"Why are we trying to fund a charter school initiative at the expense of our public schools?" said Rep. Deanna Rush, D-Pembroke. "It doesn’t make sense."

Also, by giving the state Board of Education the power to create charter schools, opponents claim local control is being taken away.

"We say we believe in it," House Minority Leader Peter Burling, D-Cornish, said of local control. "Yet here we are authorizing the state Board of Education to impose two charter schools per year over the next 10 years on school districts and voters who have not voted to approve those applications."