SPECIAL SESSION HCR 1 – VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
2015 SESSION
03/10
SPECIAL SESSION HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1
A RESOLUTION establishing a joint task force for the response to the heroin and opioid epidemic in New Hampshire.
SPONSORS: Rep. Jasper, Hills 37; Rep. Hinch, Hills 21; Sen. Morse, Dist 22; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3
This house concurrent resolution establishes a legislative task force to address the heroin and opioid epidemic.
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15-1040
03/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen
A RESOLUTION establishing a joint task force for the response to the heroin and opioid epidemic in New Hampshire.
Whereas, the members of the general court acknowledge there is a crisis in New Hampshire regarding heroin and opioids; and
Whereas, the members of the general court believe that a serious and thoughtful examination of these issues is required before the passage of legislation which could have unintended consequences; and
Whereas, the members of the general court are willing to take up this study in a timely and studious manner and return with ideas for legislation in an expedited fashion; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That there is hereby established a joint task force for the response to the heroin and opioid epidemic in New Hampshire; and
That the members of the task force shall be as follows:
The house majority leader, or designee;
The senate majority leader;
The house minority leader, or designee;
The senate minority leader;
The chairperson of the senate judiciary committee;
A minority member of the senate judiciary committee, appointed by the president of the senate;
The chairperson of the house judiciary committee, or designee;
The ranking minority member of the house judiciary committee, or designee;
The chairperson of the senate finance committee;
A minority member of the senate finance committee, appointed by the president of the senate;
The chairperson of the house finance committee, or designee;
The ranking minority member of the house finance committee, or designee;
The chairperson of the house criminal justice and public safety committee, or designee;
The ranking minority member of the house criminal justice and public safety committee, or designee;
The chairperson of the house health, human services and elderly affairs committee, or designee;
The ranking minority member of the house health, human services and elderly affairs committee, or designee;
The chairperson of the senate health and human services committee;
A minority member of the senate health and human services committee, appointed by the president of the senate;
The chairperson of the house executive departments and administration committee, or designee;
The ranking minority member of the house executive departments and administration committee, or designee;
The vice chairperson of the senate executive departments and administration committee;
A minority member of the senate executive departments and administration committee, appointed by the president of the senate;
Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and
Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate; and
That the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate are hereby authorized to appoint alternate members to the task force in the event of absences, as needed; and
That 14 members of the task force shall constitute a quorum; and
That the first meeting of the task force shall be called by the first-named member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and
That the first meeting of the task force shall be held no later than November 25, 2015; and
That the members of the task force shall elect a chairperson and a vice chairperson from among the members; and
That the chairperson shall have the authority to separate the task force members into divisions, as necessary; and
That the duties of the task force shall be to review the following issues in consultation with the necessary relevant experts and to issue recommendations relating to:
1. Amending the laws and penalties relating to the distribution of fentanyl to ensure they are on par with the laws and penalties relating to the distribution of heroin; and
2. Requiring insurance companies to use the same evaluation criteria for substance abuse treatment and removing prior authorization requirements; and
3. Mandating greater use of the state’s prescription drug monitoring program and upgrading its technology; and
4. Continuing medical education relating to prescribing schedule II, III, and IV drugs; and
5. Providing for a statewide drug court grant program; and
6. Reviewing the successful law enforcement partnership program taking place between the city of Manchester police department and New Hampshire state police; and
That task force recommendations shall be issued in a report to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the house clerk, the senate clerk, and the governor by Wednesday, January 6, 2016; and
That the chairperson and vice chairperson, or their designees, may file legislative services requests until Wednesday, January 12, 2016 consistent with the recommendations issued.