CHAPTER 273
HB 537 – FINAL VERSION
02Jan2008… 2613h
05/15/08 1665s
04Jun2008… 2112eba
2008 SESSION
05/10
HOUSE BILL 537
AN ACT establishing a task force on homeless teenagers.
SPONSORS: Rep. Blanchard, Merr 10; Rep. MacKay, Merr 11; Rep. Lockwood, Merr 6; Rep. Flockhart, Rock 13; Rep. Phinizy, Sull 5; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 24
COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law
This bill establishes a task force to study the issue of homeless teenagers.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
02Jan2008… 2613h
05/15/08 1665s
04Jun2008… 2112eba
07-0677
05/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight
AN ACT establishing a task force on homeless teenagers.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
273:1 Task Force Established. There is established a task force on homeless teenagers.
273:2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the task force shall be as follows:
(a) Three members 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 executive director of the New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness.
(d) A representative of Child and Family Services with experience with homeless teenagers, appointed by that organization.
(e) A member of the youth advisory council, established in RSA 19-K:1, appointed by the council.
(f) The director of the office of homeless, housing and transportation services, department of health and human services, or designee.
(g) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
(h) The director of the youth development center, or designee.
(i) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.
(j) One member from a local homeless shelter, appointed by the governor.
II. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation except that legislative members of the task force shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the task force.
273:3 Duties. The task force 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. Study the transitional services available to young people who are moving from foster care or other service systems to adult care systems.
IV. Review the youth development center master plan and identify any resources or services of the youth services center appropriate for homeless teenagers.
V. Solicit information and 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, mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment programs, and New Hampshire Legal Assistance.
273:4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the task force shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the task force shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the task force shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. The task force shall hold a minimum of 6 meetings. Six members of the task force shall constitute a quorum.
273:5 Report. The task force shall report its findings and make 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 September 1, 2009.
273:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: June 27, 2008
Effective Date: June 27, 2008