CHAPTER 250
HB 491 – FINAL VERSION
27Mar2007… 0887h
05/31/07 1808s
2007 SESSION
01/10
HOUSE BILL 491
AN ACT establishing a public health improvement services council.
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
This bill establishes a public health improvement services council to establish and monitor the implementation of a public health improvement plan.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
27Mar2007… 0887h
05/31/07 1808s
07-0566
01/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven
AN ACT establishing a public health improvement services council.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
250:1 Statement of Purpose.
I. The general court finds that the public health functions of community assessment, policy development, and assurance of service delivery are essential elements in achieving the objectives of public health in New Hampshire. The general court further finds that the population-based services provided by state and local health departments and other public health partners are effective strategies to promote the health of New Hampshire residents and to protect them from illness and injury.
II. The general court recognizes that the division of public health services, department of health and human services, coordinates a public health improvement process in conjunction with public health partners throughout the state culminating in a performance improvement plan for the public health system. The general court finds that in order to sustain a public health planning improvement process to assure quality public health services in New Hampshire, it is necessary to institutionalize that process through the development of the public health improvement services council and a required performance improvement planning process. Therefore, the general court hereby establishes a public health improvement services council to improve the New Hampshire public health system’s capacity to provide essential services, with the fundamental purpose to improve the public’s health.
250:2 Council Established. There is established a public health improvement services council to monitor the implementation of existing public health improvement plans and to develop a public health improvement plan.
250:3 Membership and Compensation.
I. The council shall consist of the following members and, to the extent possible, ensure geographic distribution:
(a) One member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) The commissioner of health and human services, or designee.
(d) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.
(e) The commissioner of the department of environmental services, or designee.
(f) The director of the division of public health services, department of health and human services, or designee.
(g) Two members with public health experience, one each from the Nashua and Manchester health departments, appointed by the commissioner of health and human services.
(h) Two representatives from the New Hampshire Public Health Network, appointed by the commissioner of health and human services.
(i) A representative from the New Hampshire Public Health Association, appointed by the association.
(j) A New Hampshire health insurer, appointed by the governor.
(k) A physician licensed under RSA 329, appointed by the governor.
(l) A representative from a community health center, appointed by the commissioner of health and human services.
(m) A representative from the Endowment for Health, appointed by the president.
(n) A nurse licensed under RSA 326-B who is a public health nurse, appointed by the commissioner of health and human services.
(o) A representative of the Community Health Institute, appointed by the institute.
(p) A representative of the New Hampshire Local Government Center, appointed by the center.
(q) A representative of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, appointed by the association.
II. Legislative members of the council shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the council.
250:4 Duties.
I. The council shall:
(a) Develop a public health improvement plan which shall be based on the 10 essential public health services and shall recommend priorities and strategies to improve the public health system and health status of New Hampshire residents, taking into consideration national health objectives and systems standards such as the National Public Health Performance Standards, as frameworks for assessment.
(1) The 10 essential public health services are to:
(A) Monitor health status to identify and solve community health problems.
(B) Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community.
(C) Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues.
(D) Mobilize community partnerships and action to identify and solve health problems.
(E) Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts.
(F) Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety.
(G) Link people to necessary personal health services and provide health care when otherwise unavailable.
(H) Assure a competent public and personal health care workforce.
(I) Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services.
(J) Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems.
(2) The plan shall also take into consideration priorities and strategies developed through previous public heath planning processes, related health planning initiatives, and local public health planning. The plan shall focus on prevention as a key strategy for long-term health improvement in New Hampshire. The plan shall contain recommendations on the contributions and strategies of the public and private sectors for improving health status and the public health system in the state. In addition, the plan shall include recommendations regarding priorities and strategies for reducing and eliminating health disparities in New Hampshire; including racial, ethnic, gender, age, socio-economic, and geographic disparities.
(b) Monitor the implementation of existing public health improvement plans.
II. The council may establish subcommittees as it deems necessary.
250:5 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the council shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the council shall be called by the house member. The first meeting of the council shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Seven members of the council shall constitute a quorum.
250:6 Report. The council shall make an interim report on or before January 1, 2008 and a final report on or before November 1, 2009 with 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.
250:7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: June 28, 2007
Effective: June 28, 2007