Bill Text - HB470 (2013)

Establishing a task force to determine the effects of the recession on child and family programs.


Revision: Jan. 25, 2013, midnight

HB 470 – AS INTRODUCED

2013 SESSION

13-0808

05/04

HOUSE BILL 470

AN ACT establishing a task force to determine the effects of the recession on child and family programs.

SPONSORS: Rep. Donovan, Sull 4; Rep. Porter, Hills 1; Rep. J. Schmidt, Hills 28; Rep. Gale, Hills 28; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21

COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes The Granite Strong task force, the purpose of which shall be to examine the effect of the recession and recent legislative action on state assistance programs for children and families.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

13-0808

05/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen

AN ACT establishing a task force to determine the effects of the recession on child and family programs.

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

1 New Subdivision; Granite Strong Child and Family Task Force. Amend RSA 161 by inserting after section 11 the following new subdivision:

Granite Strong Child and Family Task Force

161:12 Granite Strong Child and Family Task Force Established.

I. There is established a child and family task force, the purpose of which shall to be examine the effect of the economy and recent legislative action on state assistance programs for children and families. The goal of the task force shall be to identify means by which the state can strengthen and sustain programs that effectively support children and families in need.

II. The members of the task force shall be as follows:

(a) Three members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be a member of the children and family law committee, one of whom shall be a member of the education committee, and one of whom shall be a member of the finance committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) Two members of the senate, one of whom shall be a member of the health, education, and human services committee and one of whom shall be a member of the finance committee, appointed by the senate president.

(c) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.

(d) The commissioner of the department of employment security, or designee.

(e) The commissioner of education, or designee.

(f) One representative of the office of the governor, appointed by the governor.

(g) The director of the division of family assistance, or designee.

(h) A child care provider, appointed by the governor.

(i) A representative of New Hampshire Legal Assistance, appointed by that organization.

(j) A representative of Child and Family Services, appointed by that organization.

(k) The director of the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, or designee.

(l) The chair of the New Hampshire Local Welfare Administrators’ Association, or designee.

(m) A representative of the New Hampshire Community Action Association, appointed by that organization.

(n) A representative of the New Hampshire Child Advocacy Network, appointed by that organization.

(o) A representative of a public health organization serving low-income children and families, appointed by the governor.

(p) One public member who has participated in a state public assistance program for children and families, appointed by the governor.

(q) One representative of a faith-based organization, appointed by the governor.

(r) One representative to the Family Assistance Advisory Council, appointed by the council.

(s) One child and family advocate, appointed by the governor.

(t) One representative to the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute, appointed by the institute.

III. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, except that legislative members shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the task force.

IV. The task force shall:

(a) Identify the current policies and programs supporting children and families, with particular emphasis on, but not limited, to the following:

(1) Early care and education programs.

(2) After school programs and mentoring programs.

(3) Affordable and livable housing programs.

(4) Workforce training and placement programs.

(5) Educational programs, including higher education opportunities.

(6) Affordable health care programs for children and adults, including dental, mental, and behavioral health.

(7) Support programs and services for children and adults.

(8) Nutritional programs.

(9) Transportation.

(10) Income supports and related services.

(b) Analyze the long-term effects of these policies and programs on children, their families, and their communities.

(c) Analyze the benefits and costs of the policies and programs to municipalities and the state.

(d) Document the percentage of the target population served by such programs and evaluate the adequacy of the current state funding, if any, for such programs.

(e) Identify and analyze any deficiencies or inefficiencies of such programs.

(f) Identify sustainable sources of revenue for these programs.

(g) Develop procedures and priorities for implementing strategies and bi-annual benchmarks to evaluate the effectiveness of the programs and those served.

(h) Solicit information and testimony from the public and from any individual or organization with experience relevant to the study by determining a method to hold one public hearing in each of the 10 counties.

(i) Make recommendations for any proposed legislation the task force deems necessary.

(j) Study such additional issues as may be identified by the task force.

V. The members of the task force shall elect a chairperson and vice-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. Ten members of the task force shall constitute a quorum.

VI. The task force shall submit a preliminary report of its first year activities, findings, and any recommendations for proposed legislation on or before December 10, 2013, and a final report of its findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation for the next biennium by December 1, 2014, 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.

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