CHAPTER 226
SB 496 – FINAL VERSION
03/13/08 0833s
07May2008… 1621h
2008 SESSION
01/10
SENATE BILL 496
AN ACT establishing a commission to study incentives for providers of home and community-based care.
SPONSORS: Sen. Sgambati, Dist 4; Sen. Estabrook, Dist 21; Sen. Reynolds, Dist 2; Sen. Burling, Dist 5; Sen. Kenney, Dist 3; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 24; Rep. McLeod, Graf 2; Rep. Emerton, Hills 7; Rep. Donovan, Sull 4
COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services
This bill establishes a commission to study incentives for providers of home and community-based care.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/13/08 0833s
07May2008… 1621h
08-2695
01/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight
AN ACT establishing a commission to study incentives for providers of home and community-based care.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
226:1 Statement of Purpose.
I. The general court recognizes that the number of people over the age of 85 living in New Hampshire is expected to at least double, reaching nearly 45,000, in 2030 according to the United States Census Bureau. These seniors, and many under age 85, will need assistance if they are to remain in their homes. Many New Hampshire families are caring for their parents, grandparents, and disabled family members but need assistance as they juggle caring for their relatives with work outside the home.
II. The general court recognizes the vital role of direct care workers who enable the elderly and persons with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and mental illness to live as independently as possible in their homes and communities, and further recognizes that the pool from which those caregivers are drawn is shrinking. Turnover among these direct care workers ranges from 30 to 80 percent, resulting in inconsistent, disruptive care delivery or, in some cases, no available care at all. Many factors contribute to this high turnover.
III. Therefore, the general court hereby establishes a commission to bring representatives from provider organizations, direct care workers, and appropriate state agencies together to identify and recommend incentives to improve recruitment and retention of these caregivers.
226:2 Commission Established. There is established a commission to study incentives for providers of home and community-based care.
226:3 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) One member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
(d) The commissioner of the department of labor, or designee.
(e) Four non-supervisory direct care workers representing workers who serve in a variety of settings, appointed by the governor.
(f) A representative of the Direct Care Workforce Initiative of the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, appointed by such organization.
(g) Two representatives of the Home Care Association of New Hampshire one of whom shall be from a for-profit agency and one from a non-profit agency, appointed by such association.
(h) One representative of the New Hampshire Private Provider Network, appointed by such organization.
(i) One representative of Granite State Independent Living, appointed by such organization.
(j) One representative of Community Support Network, Inc., appointed by such organization.
(k) One representative of New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association, appointed by such organization.
II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
226:4 Duties. The commission shall identify incentives for providers of care for the elderly and persons with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and mental illness that encourage recruitment and retention of non-supervisory direct care workers. The commission’s study shall include, but not be limited to, identifying:
I. Employer best practices that contribute to successful direct care worker recruitment and retention.
II. Mechanisms within various public funding streams for implementing provider incentives.
226:5 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
226:6 Report. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the oversight committee on health and human services, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2009.
226:7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: June 16, 2008
Effective Date: June 16, 2008