HB140 (2007) Detail

(New Title) establishing the New Hampshire commission on deafness and hearing loss.


CHAPTER 294

HB 140 – FINAL VERSION

21Feb2007… 0137h

06/07/07 1977s

06/07/07 2098s

13Jun2007… 2183eba

2007 SESSION

07-0591

01/05

HOUSE BILL 140

AN ACT establishing the New Hampshire commission on deafness and hearing loss.

SPONSORS: Rep. Pilliod, Belk 5; Rep. Emerson, Ches 7

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill establishes the New Hampshire commission on deafness and hearing loss.

This bill requires the general court to review the commission in 6 years to determine its effectiveness.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

21Feb2007… 0137h

06/07/07 1977s

06/07/07 2098s

13Jun2007… 2183eba

07-0591

01/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven

AN ACT establishing the New Hampshire commission on deafness and hearing loss.

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

294:1 New Chapter; New Hampshire Commission on Deafness and Hearing Loss. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 125-O the following new chapter:

CHAPTER 125-P

NEW HAMPSHIRE COMMISSION ON DEAFNESS AND HEARING LOSS

125-P:1 Commission Established; Chairperson; Compensation.

I. A commission, to be known as the New Hampshire commission on deafness and hearing loss is hereby created and established. The commission shall consist of the following members:

(a) Two members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be from the health, human services and elderly affairs committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) One member from the governor’s commission on disabilities, appointed by the governor.

(c) Two representatives of the department of health and human services, appointed by the commissioner.

(d) One representative of the department of employment security, appointed by the commissioner.

(e) Two representatives of the department of education, appointed by the commissioner.

(f) One representative of the administrative office of the courts, appointed by the chief justice of the New Hampshire superior court.

(g) The president of the New Hampshire Association of the Deaf, or designee.

(h) One representative of the New Hampshire Association of the Deaf, appointed by the president of the association, or designee.

(i) The president of the New Hampshire chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America, or designee.

(j) One representative from the New Hampshire chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America, appointed by the president of such association, or designee.

(k) One representative of the New Hampshire Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, appointed by the president of the New Hampshire Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, or designee.

(l) The attorney general, or designee.

(m) The commissioner of the department of safety, or designee.

(n) The commissioner of the department of corrections, or designee.

(o) The executive director of Granite State Independent Living, or designee.

(p) The executive director of the governor’s commission on disability.

(q) The executive director of Northeast Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Inc.

(r) The executive director of the Disabilities Rights Center.

(s) One representative of the New Hampshire Academy of Audiology, appointed by the president of the academy.

II. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation except that legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

III. Legislative members of the commission shall serve a term which is coterminous with their elected office.

125-P:2 Organization; Meetings.

I. The commission shall be convened by the first-named member of the house of representatives, and shall hold its first meeting no later than 30 days after the effective date of this chapter.

II. The department of education and the department of health and human services shall provide administrative support, in equal measure, for the commission, including interpreter services for commission meetings.

125-P:3 Duties. The commission shall:

I. Recommend, where applicable, statutes, rules, policies, and education programs necessary to successfully provide New Hampshire citizens who are deaf or hard of hearing with access to competent interpreters at all levels of local and state government.

II. Investigate establishing an information and referral service operated by and for persons who are deaf and hard of hearing to promote access of such persons to the community-based health care, educational, employment, and social services that are available to all citizens.

III. Develop peer counseling, job placement, and advocacy services which would enhance the ability of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to contribute to their communities.

IV. Recommend legislation and identify funding sources by working in collaboration with the following agencies and organizations:

(a) The governor’s commission on disability.

(b) The Disabilities Rights Center.

(c) Northeast Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Inc.

(d) The department of health and human services.

(e) The department of safety.

(f) The department of corrections.

(g) The department of education.

(h) The department of justice.

(i) Granite State Independent Living.

125-P:4 Report. The commission shall make an annual report commencing on November 1, 2008, together with any recommendations, to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the governor.

294:2 Review. The general court shall review the New Hampshire commission on deafness and hearing loss established in section 1 of this act in 6 years to determine the effectiveness of the commission.

294:3 Contingency. If HB 688 of the 2007 legislative session becomes law, RSA 125-P as inserted by section 1 of this act shall be renumbered as RSA 125-Q.

294:4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: July 13, 2007

Effective: September 11, 2007