HB253 (2011) Detail

Establishing a committee to determine the value of professional licensing and disciplinary practices in New Hampshire.


HB 253 – AS INTRODUCED

2011 SESSION

11-0889

10/09

HOUSE BILL 253

AN ACT establishing a committee to determine the value of professional licensing and disciplinary practices in New Hampshire.

SPONSORS: Rep. Mirski, Graf 10

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a committee to determine the value of professional licensing and disciplinary practices in New Hampshire.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

11-0889

10/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven

AN ACT establishing a committee to determine the value of professional licensing and disciplinary practices in New Hampshire.

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

1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to determine the value of professional licensing and disciplinary practices in New Hampshire.

2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

(a) Five members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

II. No member of the committee shall be a member of a licensed profession or trade in this state.

III. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

3 Duties. The committee shall undertake an audit of the performance of practitioners and of disciplinary practices over a 10-year period having to do with each licensed profession to determine the nature of self-policing of the various licensing boards or commissions. The purpose of the audits shall be to determine:

I. The degree of malpractice among the professions and trades.

II. The number of complaints made against licensed practitioners.

III. The degree of oversight and monitoring, to determine the number and nature of disciplinary actions taken.

IV. The number of civil cases filed against licensed practitioners.

V. The cost to the state of monitoring said professions in relation to actual need for oversight.

VI. The economic benefit and liability to the economy of New Hampshire from licensing multiple trades.

VII. The implications for gaining reciprocity for practicing in other states and nations.

VIII. In general, whether or not a simple system of licensing all businesses and trades under a consumer protection umbrella office instead of continually reauthorizing or enacting new licensing boards would better serve the people’s consumer protection interests.

4 Powers of the Committee. In order to carry out the duties of the committee and to acquire all information relevant to the purposes of the committee, the committee is authorized to compel by subpoena the attendance and giving of testimony by any person, and the committee is further authorized to compel the production of such books, papers, or other memoranda, or documents as it deems necessary.

5 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

6 Report. The committee 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, 2011.

7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.