Bill Text - HB487 (2020)

Establishing a registry for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf/blind in the department of health and human services.


Revision: March 11, 2019, 10:11 a.m.

HB 487-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

 

7Mar2019... 0674h

2019 SESSION

19-0508

01/03

 

HOUSE BILL 487-FN

 

AN ACT establishing a registry for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf/blind in the department of health and human services.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Porter, Hills. 1; Rep. Le, Rock. 31; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20

 

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill establishes a registry relative to persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf/blind in the department of health and human services.  The bill grants rulemaking authority to the commissioner of the department of health and human services for the purposes of the bill.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

7Mar2019... 0674h 19-0508

01/03

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen

 

AN ACT establishing a registry for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf/blind in the department of health and human services.

 

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

 

1  New Subdivision; Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf/Blind Registry.  Amend RSA 125-Q by inserting after section 4 the following new subdivision:

Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf/Blind Registry

125-Q:5  Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf/Blind Registry.

I.  There shall be established a state registry in the department of health and human services which shall include a record of all reported cases of persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf/blind in New Hampshire and other information relevant and appropriate to conduct thorough and complete analysis of this condition, and to facilitate planning for services to persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf/blind and their families.  The department may enter into an agreement with an appropriate entity for the management of the registry; provided, that any records and data submitted to the department pursuant to this subdivision shall be the property of the department.

II.  All physicians and other licensed or certified health care providers who are qualified by training to make the diagnosis and who then make the diagnosis that a person of any age is deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf/blind shall report all new cases of this diagnosis to the department in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner.  The report shall be in writing and shall include the provider submitting the report’s name and address, the deaf or hard of hearing or deaf/blind person's date of birth, gender, zip code at birth residence, zip code of present residence, specific diagnosis, and other information the department deems necessary.  The department shall assign a unique identification code to identify the person who is deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf/blind.  The code shall not include the name or address of the person.

III.  All information required to be reported under this subdivision shall be confidential.  A physician or health care provider providing information to the department in accordance with this section shall not be deemed to be, or held liable for, divulging confidential information.

IV.  Nothing in this section shall be construed to compel a person who has been reported as deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf/blind to submit to medical or health examination or supervision by the department.

125-Q:6  Rulemaking.  The commissioner of health and human services shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to:

I.  Definitions of the terms “deaf,” “hard of hearing,” and “deaf-blind.”

II.  Procedures for reporting cases of persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf/blind under RSA 125-Q:5.

III.  Content of all forms required under this subdivision.

IV.  Confidentiality of records and information reported pursuant to this subdivision.

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

 

LBAO

19-0508

Amended 3/8/19

 

HB 487-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2019-0674h)

 

AN ACT establishing a registry for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf/blind in the department of health and human services.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

FY 2023

   Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

$81,000

$85,000

$89,000

$94,000

Funding Source:

  [ X ] General            [    ] Education            [    ] Highway           [    ] Other

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill establishes a registry in the Department of Health and Human Services to include all reported cases of persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf/blind in New Hampshire.  The registry is to be populated with information from physicians and other health care providers, who are required to report all new cases in a form and manner prescribed by the Department.  The Department states that while it is unable to estimate the number of new cases reported each year, it will likely need to hire a staff person to conduct outreach to providers, collect information, manage a database, create reports, and draft administrative rules relative to the registry.  The Department anticipates the following salary and benefits costs for a program support specialist (labor grade 25): $81,000 in FY 2020, $85,000 in FY 2021, $89,000 in FY 2022, and $94,000 in FY 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services