HB 1339 – AS INTRODUCED
2010 SESSION
01/09
HOUSE BILL 1339
AN ACT relative to the state services system and establishing a commission to study uncompensated care at community mental health centers.
SPONSORS: Rep. DeJoie, Merr 11
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Health
This bill grants the commissioner of the department of health and human services rulemaking authority to designate an individual or entity to operate and administer a program or facility which provides services to mentally ill or developmentally impaired persons.
This bill also establishes a commission to study uncompensated care at the 10 community mental health centers.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
10-2227
01/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten
AN ACT relative to the state services system and establishing a commission to study uncompensated care at community mental health centers.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 State Services System. Amend RSA 135-C:3 to read as follows:
135-C:3 State Services System Established. The department shall establish, maintain, implement, and coordinate a system of mental health services under this chapter and a system of developmental services under RSA 171-A. Both systems shall be supervised by the commissioner. At the discretion of the commissioner, the department may directly operate and administer any program or facility which provides, or which may be established to provide, services to mentally ill or developmentally impaired persons or may [enter into a contract with any] designate by rules adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A, an individual, partnership, association, public or private, for profit or nonprofit, agency or corporation for the operation and administration of any such program or facility.
2 Commission Established. There is established a commission to study uncompensated care at the 10 community mental health centers.
3 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Two 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 commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
(d) One member appointed by the chief justice of the superior court.
(e) One member appointed by the New Hampshire Hospital Association.
(f) One member appointed by the New Hampshire Association of Counties, county corrections affiliate.
(g) Two members appointed by the New Hampshire Community Behavioral Heath Association.
(h) One member appointed by the Disabilities Rights Center.
II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
4 Duties. The commission shall review the contractual, statutory, and regulatory requirements for community mental health centers and shall identify areas where uncompensated care has resulted. The commission shall determine whether such requirements can be repealed or amended or whether additional funding to ensure their continuation is necessary to protect the public’s health and safety.
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 house 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.
6 Report. The commission shall report 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 on or before November 1, 2010.
7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.