HB 220 – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
30Mar2005… 0495h
2005 SESSION
05/09
HOUSE BILL 220
AN ACT establishing a committee to study the ability of homeless youth in New Hampshire to make a successful transition to adulthood.
SPONSORS: Rep. E. Blanchard, Merr 10; Rep. MacKay, Merr 11; Sen. Larsen, Dist 15
COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law
This bill establishes a committee to study the ability of homeless youth in New Hampshire to make a successful transition to adulthood.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
30Mar2005… 0495h
05-0688
05/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Five
AN ACT establishing a committee to study the ability of homeless youth in New Hampshire to make a successful transition to adulthood.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the ability of homeless youth in New Hampshire to make a successful transition to adulthood.
2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be a member of the education committee, one of whom shall be a member of the children and family law committee, and one of whom shall be a member of the health, human services and elderly affairs committee.
(b) Three members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
3 Duties. The committee shall:
I. Investigate the number of homeless youth in the state and the extent of any current or prior relationship to the division of children, youth and families or the division for juvenile justice services.
II. Investigate the needs of homeless youth for employment, education, transportation, housing, nutrition, mental health services, medical and dental care, legal services, and other support services from adults, including the current availability and accessibility of such services.
III. Solicit testimony from youth and young adults who are or have been homeless, and from agencies and organizations that provide services to homeless youth and young adults, including school assistance and other educational programs, runaway and homeless youth programs, health, mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment programs, and from other sources as deemed helpful by the committee.
IV. Seek information relative to the needs of adolescents, as they transition to adulthood, from the following organizations: the Adolescence Resource Center of the university of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Medical Society, the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, the department of education, the department of health and human services office of homeless, housing, and transportation services, New Hampshire Legal Assistance, and others as may be appropriate.
V. Study the effect that homeless teens have on society, including the social and financial costs associated with inadequate transitional services for teens who leave the foster care system and special education system without the necessary skills or supports to become self-sufficient.
4 Support from Department of Health and Human Services. The division for children, youth, and families and the division for juvenile justice services shall cooperate with the committee and may provide such information, testimony, and support as requested by the committee in the performance of its duties.
5 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
6 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2005. The report shall include, to the extent practicable, the estimated cost of both implementing and not implementing the committee’s recommendations.
7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.