Bill Text - HB260 (2013)

Relative to voluntary services provided by the department of health and human services to children in need.


Revision: Jan. 15, 2013, midnight

HB 260-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2013 SESSION

13-0728

05/09

HOUSE BILL 260-FN

AN ACT relative to voluntary services provided by the department of health and human services to children in need.

SPONSORS: Rep. Lovejoy, Rock 36; Rep. Copeland, Rock 19

COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law

ANALYSIS

This bill authorizes the department of health and human services to provide voluntary services to a child who would otherwise be found to be a child in need of services under RSA 169-D. Such services are subject to available funding.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

13-0728

05/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen

AN ACT relative to voluntary services provided by the department of health and human services to children in need.

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

1 New Section; Children In Need of Services; Voluntary Service Plan. Amend 169-D by inserting after section 5-b the following new section:

169-D:5-c Voluntary Services Plan. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and subject to available appropriations, the department may, pursuant to a voluntary service plan that is developed and provided for a minor and the minor's family by the department, offer voluntary services to families without making a determination that the child is a child in need of services pursuant to RSA 169-D:2, II. The department shall adopt rules, under RSA 541-A, relative to the provision of voluntary services under this section.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO

13-0728

01/14/13

HB 260-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to voluntary services provided by the department of health and human services to children in need.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Department of Health and Human Services and the New Hampshire Municipal Association state this bill, as introduced, will increase state expenditures and revenue, and decrease local expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2014 and in each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on county or local revenue, or county expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

    The Department of Health and Human Services states the bill would authorize the Department to provide voluntary services to children and families under the CHINS statute. It would also require the Department to adopt rules relative to these services. The Department states it is not clear who would qualify for the services or what services would be provided, but assumes the adoption of administrative rules would clarify these issues. The Department assumes the bill will result in an indeterminable increase in state expenditures and state revenue if federal funds are available to cover a portion of the increased costs. The Department assumes an effective date of July 1, 2013.

      The New Hampshire Municipal Association states this bill allows the Department of Health and Human Services to offer voluntary services to the family of a minor child without making a determination that the child is a child in need of services as defined in statute. The Association assumes the services would have the potential to reduce the burden on municipal services such as police and welfare, but the Association is not able to estimate the reduction in local expenditures as the services are voluntary and subject to available appropriations.