1 New Section; Secure Psychiatric Unit Facility Advisory Council. Amend RSA 622 by inserting after section 52 the following new section:

622:52-a Secure Psychiatric Unit Facility Advisory Council.

I. There is hereby established a secure psychiatric unit facility advisory council to assist the commissioner of the department of health and human services with the planning and construction of a new 25-bed secure psychiatric unit facility as required under 2019, 346:357 to treat patients currently civilly committed to the secure psychiatric unit. The members of the advisory council shall be:

(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 senate president.

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

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

(e) The director of medical and forensic services of the department of corrections, or designee.

(f) The chief operating officer of the New Hampshire hospital, or designee.

(g) One member representing New Hampshire Legal Assistance, appointed by that organization.

(h) One member of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, appointed by that organization.

(i) A representative of the National Alliance on Mental Illness New Hampshire, appointed by such organization.

(j) A representative of the New Hampshire Psychiatric Society, appointed by the society.

(k) A representative of the New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association, appointed by such organization.

(l) A representative of the Community Support Network, Inc, appointed by that organization.

(m) Two members of the public, one of whom shall be a family member of a person who was civilly committed to the secure psychiatric unit, appointed by the governor.

(n) A representative of New Hampshire Peer Voice, appointed by that organization.

II. The advisory council shall assist the commissioner of the department of health and human services in the development of plans for and the construction of a the new 25-bed secure psychiatric unit facility as required under 2019, 346:357 for the purpose of providing treatment in an accredited institution for patients currently treated pursuant to the provisions of RSA 622:45.

III. Legislative members shall receive mileage at the legislative rate while attending to the duties of the advisory council.

IV. The members of the advisory council shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. Nine members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

V. The advisory council shall submit an annual report on November 1 of each year, commencing November 1, 2020, and a final report on November 1, 2023, detailing its activities and findings, together with any recommendations for proposed legislation, to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the chairpersons of the house criminal justice and public safety and the house health, human services, and elderly affairs committees, the chairperson of the senate judiciary committee, the chairperson of the senate health, human services, and elderly affairs committee, the state library, and the governor.

2 Repeal. RSA 622:52-a, relative to the secure psychiatric unit facility advisory council, is repealed.

3 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2023.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

1 New Section; Secure Psychiatric Unit Facility Advisory Council. Amend RSA 622 by inserting after section 52 the following new section:

622:52-a Secure Psychiatric Unit Facility Advisory Council.

I. There is hereby established a secure psychiatric unit facility advisory council to assist the commissioner of the department of health and human services with the planning and construction of a new 25-bed secure psychiatric unit facility as required under 2019, 346:357 to treat patients currently civilly committed to the secure psychiatric unit. The members of the advisory council shall be:

(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 senate president.

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

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

(e) The director of medical and forensic services of the department of corrections, or designee.

(f) The chief operating officer of the New Hampshire hospital, or designee.

(g) One member representing New Hampshire Legal Assistance, appointed by that organization.

(h) One member of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, appointed by that organization.

(i) A representative of the National Alliance on Mental Illness New Hampshire, appointed by such organization.

(j) A representative of the New Hampshire Psychiatric Society, appointed by the society.

(k) A representative of the New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association, appointed by such organization.

(l) A representative of the Community Support Network, Inc, appointed by that organization.

(m) Two members of the public, one of whom shall be a family member of a person who was civilly committed to the secure psychiatric unit, appointed by the governor.

(n) A representative of New Hampshire Peer Voice, appointed by that organization.

II. The advisory council shall assist the commissioner of the department of health and human services in the development of plans for and the construction of a the new 25-bed secure psychiatric unit facility as required under 2019, 346:357 for the purpose of providing treatment in an accredited institution for patients currently treated pursuant to the provisions of RSA 622:45.

III. Legislative members shall receive mileage at the legislative rate while attending to the duties of the advisory council.

IV. The members of the advisory council shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. Nine members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

V. The advisory council shall submit an annual report on November 1 of each year, commencing November 1, 2020, and a final report on November 1, 2023, detailing its activities and findings, together with any recommendations for proposed legislation, to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the chairpersons of the house criminal justice and public safety and the house health, human services, and elderly affairs committees, the chairperson of the senate judiciary committee, the chairperson of the senate health, human services, and elderly affairs committee, the state library, and the governor.

2 Repeal. RSA 622:52-a, relative to the secure psychiatric unit facility advisory council, is repealed.

3 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2023.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.