Revision: March 5, 2019, 3:39 p.m.
HB 565-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
27Feb2019... 0552h
2019 SESSION
19-0489
05/01
HOUSE BILL 565-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Berrien, Rock. 18; Rep. Gordon, Graf. 9; Rep. Rice, Hills. 37; Rep. Goley, Hills. 8; Rep. DeSimone, Rock. 14; Rep. Hennessey, Graf. 1; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 5
COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill directs the department of health and human services to issue a request for proposals (RFP) to establish a supervised visitation center in each county.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
27Feb2019... 0552h 19-0489
05/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Purpose and Findings. The general court hereby finds that in order to provide safe and secure exchanges and supervision between children and a visiting parent where there has been domestic violence, there needs to be better access to supervised visitation centers in New Hampshire. The purpose of this act is to create a supervised visitation program administered by the department of health and human services to better ensure the safety of vulnerable parents and children.
2 New Subdivision; Supervised Visitation Centers. Amend RSA 170-G by inserting after section 21 the following new subdivision:
Supervised Visitation Centers
170-G:22 Supervised Visitation Centers.
I. The department of health and human services shall contract with one or more qualified organizations to establish and operate a supervised visitation center in each county. The centers shall:
(a) Adhere to the Guiding Principles of Safe Havens; Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Grant Program developed by the United States Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women.
(b) Participate as a member in good standing in the New Hampshire Family Visitation and Access Cooperative.
(c) Seek community input regarding the center's planning and operation as well as technical assistance and training from organizations with expertise in the field of supervised visitation.
II. The department shall publish a request for proposals (RFP) to support a supervised visitation center in each county. The RFP shall require applicants to provide a detailed plan and budget to meet the anticipated needs of the county. Budgets shall address wages, benefits, on-site law enforcement, office space, training, and insurance. Plans shall address safety procedures as well as policies related to payment for services and clients to be served.
III. All supervised visitation centers or facilities in New Hampshire shall adhere to the Guiding Principles of Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Grant Program developed by the United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women and participate as a member in good standing in the New Hampshire Family Visitation and Access Cooperative.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
19-0489
Amended 3/5/19
HB 565-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2019-0552h)
AN ACT directing the department of health and human services to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for supervised visitation centers.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other | |||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill amends RSA 170-G by adding a new section to establish supervised visitation centers in each county. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a request for proposals (RFP) and contract with one or more entities to provide the service. The Department assumes the proposed visitation centers will serve all families in need of supervised visitation, and that services will not be limited to child protection cases pursuant to RSA 169-C. In addition, the Department assumes that in order for the proposed centers to properly and safely function, they will each need trained staff, including a director-level position and/or a case manager and visitation supervisors. Other costs will include benefits, physical security features, and on-site security personnel. The Department states the operating expenses for each of the current centers range between $166,000 to $220,000 annually. The Department anticipates hiring one full-time Administrator I (labor grade 27) to oversee the centers beginning October 1, 2019, at the following annual cost:
Operations and Position Expenditures | ||||
Administrator I (start date 10/01/19) | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 |
Salary | $42,000 | $57,000 | $60,000 | $63,000 |
Benefits | $24,000 | $33,000 | $35,000 | $37,000 |
Other | $8,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
Total Position Cost | $74,000 | $95,000 | $100,000 | $105,000 |
Operations | $830,000 - $1,100,000 | $1,660,000 - $2,200,000 | $1,660,000 - $2,200,000 | $1,660,000 - $2,200,000 |
Total Cost Range | $904,000 - $1,174,000 | $1,755,000 - $2,295,000 | $1,760,000 - $2,300,000 | $1,765,000 - $2,305,000 |
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Health and Human Services