Bill Text - HB1599 (2018)

Relative to the governor's commission on disability.


Revision: Nov. 13, 2017, 9:40 a.m.

HB 1599 - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2018 SESSION

18-2397

01/05

 

HOUSE BILL 1599

 

AN ACT relative to the governor's commission on disability.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. L. Ober, Hills. 37; Rep. M. MacKay, Hills. 30; Rep. LeBrun, Hills. 32; Rep. J. MacKay, Merr. 14

 

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill  changes the definition of "person with a disability" for the purposes of RSA 275-C to conform with the definition under the Americans With Disabilities Act.  This bill also changes the composition of the governor's commission on disability and the permanent committee for barrier free design.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

18-2397

01/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen

 

AN ACT relative to the governor's commission on disability.

 

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

 

1  Governor's Commission on Disability; Definitions.  Amend RSA 275-C:1, II to read as follows:

II.  "Person with a disability'' means one who[, because of a substantial physical, mental or emotional disability or dysfunction, requires special services in order to enjoy the benefits of society] has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one of more of the major life activities of such individual, a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.

2  Governor's Commission on Disability; Membership.  RSA 275-C:2 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

275-C:2  Commission Established; Membership; Terms.  There is hereby established the governor's commission on disability which shall consist of up to 30 members appointed by the governor.  Commission members shall consist of persons with a disability, family members or parents or guardians of persons with a disability, persons from the general public, or members of organizations who provide services for persons with a disability.  Each member of the commission shall serve without compensation.  Each member of the commission shall serve for a 6 year term.  The governor shall appoint a chairman of the commission from among the members.  Any member appointed by the governor after the effective date of this section, excluding reappointed members, shall serve for a 3-year term and for no more than 2 consecutive 3-year terms.  A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of members appointed.

3  Governor's Commission on Disability; Newsline for the Blind.  Amend RSA 275-C:8-a to read as follows:

275-C:8-a  [Newsline for the Blind] NFB - Newsline; Funding.  Beginning July 1, 2017, and in each fiscal year thereafter, the sum of $31,500 is hereby appropriated to the governor's commission on disability for the purpose of funding the National Federation of the Blind's ["Newsline for the Blind,''] "NFB - Newsline," an information and news service that provides individuals who are otherwise unable to read newsprint with access to existing newspapers and other printed materials.  Said funds shall be a charge against the telecommunications relay service trust fund established by the public utilities commission.

4  Committee on Architectural Barrier-Free Design; Definitions.  RSA 275-C:10, III is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

III.  "Person with a disability" means one who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual, a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.

5  Permanent Committee for Barrier-Free Design; Membership; Bylaws.  Amend RSA 275-C:11 and RSA 275-C:12 to read as follows:

275-C:11  Permanent Committee for Barrier-Free Design Established.  There is hereby established a permanent committee of the commission, to be known as the committee on architectural barrier-free design.  Such committee shall be appointed by the chairman of the commission, with the approval of the commission and shall consist of [at least] up to 11 members, a majority of whom shall be persons with a disability who have demonstrated an understanding of and commitment to architectural barrier-free design.  One member [shall] may be a representative of the interests of the building trades[,] and one member [shall] may be [a registered] an engineer or architect[, and the remaining members shall be ex officio members of the governor's commission, or their designees].

275-C:12  Bylaws.  The permanent committee on architectural barrier-free design shall meet as soon as possible after appointment and elect one of its appointed members as chairman who shall serve for a [term of 2 years and until a successor is elected] 2-year term and for no more than 2 consecutive 2-year terms.  The committee shall meet not less than 6 times annually, and at such other times as may be designated by the chairman.  [Six members of the committee shall constitute a quorum at all meetings.]  Appointed members shall serve for a 2-year term and for no more than 2 consecutive 2-year terms.  A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of members appointed.  The members and the chairman shall receive no compensation for their services, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses out of any funds available to the governor's commission on disability for said purposes.  Members of the committee may be dismissed by the governor for cause.

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