SB289 (2006) Detail

Relative to the brain and spinal cord advisory council.


CHAPTER 184

SB 289-FN – FINAL VERSION

02/09/06 0724s

05/11/06 1728eba

2006 SESSION

06-2466

08/09

SENATE BILL 289-FN

AN ACT relative to the brain and spinal cord advisory council.

SPONSORS: Sen. Boyce, Dist 4; Rep. Boyce, Belk 5; Rep. Emerton, Hills 7; Rep. Weyler, Rock 8

COMMITTEE: Internal Affairs

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill changes the membership of the brain and spinal cord advisory council.

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

02/09/06 0724s

05/11/06 1728eba

06-2466

08/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Six

AN ACT relative to the brain and spinal cord advisory council.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

184:1 Advisory Council. RSA 137-K:2 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

137-K:2 Advisory Council.

I. There is established the New Hampshire brain and spinal cord injury advisory council in the department.

II.(a) The advisory council shall consist of the following voting members:

(1) Two members of the Spinal Cord Injury Association, appointed by such association.

(2) Two members of the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire, appointed by such association.

(3) Two members of the professional community, one of whom shall be in a neurological specialty, appointed by the governor.

(4) Two brain and spinal cord injury survivors, appointed by the governor.

(5) Two family members of victims of brain and spinal cord injuries, appointed by the governor.

(6) One member involved in injury prevention, appointed by the commissioner of the department of health and human services.

(7) One member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(8) One member of the senate, appointed by the senate president.

(9) One vocational rehabilitation instructor, appointed by the commissioner of the department of education.

(10) One educator, appointed by the commissioner of the department of education.

(b) The following persons or their designees shall serve as ex-officio, non-voting members of the council:

(1) The commissioner of the department of health and human services and any division administrators of the department of health and human services designated by the commissioner.

(2) The chief of the special education bureau of the department of education.

(3) The administrator of the division of vocational rehabilitation services of the department of education.

(4) The president or executive director of the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire.

(5) The president or executive director, New Hampshire chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association.

(6) The administrator of brain injury services, division of developmental services, department of health and human services.

(7) The administrator of the HCBC/ECI waiver, division of elderly and adult services, department of health and human services.

(8) The president or executive director of Granite State Independent Living.

(9) The president or executive director of the New Hampshire Developmental Disabilities Council.

(10) Representatives of other related agencies or organizations as approved by the council.

III. Members should be appointed with consideration given to statewide geographic representation.

IV. Advisory council appointments shall be for 3 years. Terms shall be staggered so that 1/3 of the positions are elected each year. Upon the completion of 2 consecutive 3-year terms, a council member shall be ineligible to serve on the council for one year. A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. Such appointment shall complete the original member’s term.

V. The advisory council shall have the authority to draft and adopt by-laws addressing concerns such as attendance, presentations, and notice of council meetings.

VI. The advisory council shall meet at least quarterly. At the last meeting of the state fiscal year, the regular meetings of the following state fiscal year shall be scheduled. Special meetings may be held if necessary at the call of the advisory council chair.

VII. The advisory council shall:

(a) Identify unmet needs which should be considered for support.

(b) Investigate the needs of citizens with brain and spinal cord injuries, identifying the gaps in services to these citizens, and issue an annual report to the governor, the speaker of the house, the senate president, and the commissioner of health and human services by November 1 of each year.

(c) Recommend to the commissioner priorities and criteria for disbursement of any moneys received under paragraph VIII.

(d) Hold at least 2 public hearings annually, in different regions of the state, to generate input from the public on unmet needs.

(e) Consider the feasibility of establishing a brain and spinal cord injury trust fund.

(f) Review the status of the brain injury program, established under RSA 137-K:9, and recommend to the commissioner priorities and criteria for disbursement of appropriations available to the program.

VIII. The advisory council is authorized to solicit and receive any gifts, grants, or donations made for the purposes of this chapter, and the commissioner may disburse and administer the same for the purposes of this chapter.

184:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: May 25, 2006

Effective: May 25, 2006