Bill Text - SB568 (2020)

Establishing an oversight committee to the office of professional licensure and certification.


Revision: Jan. 2, 2020, 1:51 p.m.

SB 568  - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2020 SESSION

20-2975

10/04

 

SENATE BILL 568

 

AN ACT establishing an oversight committee to the office of professional licensure and certification.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Kahn, Dist 10; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Rep. MacKay, Merr. 14; Rep. Edwards, Rock. 4; Rep. Meader, Ches. 6

 

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill establishes a permanent statutory oversight committee to promote efficiency and effectiveness in professional licensing and certification administered by the office of professional licensure and certification.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20-2975

10/04

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

 

AN ACT establishing an oversight committee to the office of professional licensure and certification.

 

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

 

1  New Section; Office of Professional Licensure and Certification; Oversight Committee.  Amend RSA 310-A by inserting after section 1-e the following new section:

310-A:1-f  Oversight Committee; Purpose.  The purpose of the office of professional licensure and certification oversight committee is to promote efficiency and effectiveness in the professional licensing and certification of New Hampshire's workforce and to support means of assuring adequate workforce to meet the needs of the people of this state.

I.  There shall be an oversight committee to the office of professional licensure and certification consisting of 5 members as follows:

(a)  Two members of the senate, at least one of whom shall be a member of the senate committee with jurisdiction over health and human services matters and one of whom shall be a member of the senate committee with jurisdiction over executive departments, appointed by the president of the senate.

(b)  Three members of the house of representatives, at least one of whom shall be from the house committee with jurisdiction over health, human services matters, and one of whom shall be from the house committee with jurisdiction over executive departments, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

II.  Membership on the oversight committee shall be for the biennial legislative term and shall be coterminous with membership in the general court.

III.  The oversight committee to the office of professional licensure and certification shall provide legislative oversight of the office to support a cost effective, comprehensive, coordinated system of licensure that serves New Hampshire's workforce needs for professional and licensed services.  The committee shall promote greater efficiencies by consolidating and centralizing reporting requirements and other responsibilities of the office to avoid duplication of efforts involving other non-regulatory boards, commissions, councils, advisory committees, and task forces.

IV.  The oversight committee shall have a chairperson chosen by vote from among the committee membership.  The chairperson's term of office shall be for the biennial legislative term.  The committee shall appoint a clerk by vote by the members of the committee.  The clerk's term of office shall be for the biennial legislative term.  The members of the committee shall receive legislative mileage when in performance of their duties.

V.  The oversight committee shall provide legislative oversight of and informational meetings on the programs, policies, and rules of the office as brought to its attention by committee members, legislators, department personnel, or others.  The committee shall monitor the efficiency of operation and the quality of service provided by the office's licensing and certification boards, and shall explore funding and technology upgrades to improve operations.  The committee's work may include but not be limited to:

(a)  Analyzing the efficacy of licensing and certification boards.

(b)  Studying licensure and certification trends affecting workforce availability.

(c)  Reviewing alternate approaches to licensing and certification.

(d)  Reviewing and recommending fees associated with licensure and certification.

(e)  Becoming informed of funding and technology upgrades to improve operations.

VI.  The oversight committee may make recommendations to the executive director of the office of professional licensure and certification for legislation as indicated by its findings.  The committee shall maintain communications with the office, and any other departments, as necessary to accomplish its work.

VII.  The oversight committee may create subcommittees, task forces, or other ancillary bodies as necessary to implement its responsibilities.  In developing these bodies, the committee shall take into account major licensing and certification functions and populations served by the related boards.  The committee may:

(a)  Recommend specific guidelines or outcomes for each board, including reporting requirements.

(b)  Appoint members to subcommittees, task forces, or other ancillary bodies, including at least one legislator and, as appropriate, other members as determined by the expertise necessary to accomplish the work of the body.  Legislative members on a subcommittee need not be a member of the oversight committee.

(c)  Review and recommend fees associated with licensure and certification.

(d)  Appoint a chair person of each such body, who shall be a legislator and who shall act as the liaison between the body and the oversight committee.

VIII.  The oversight committee shall meet at the call of the chair but in no case less than every 2 months.

IX.  The oversight committee shall make a report no later than the first day of November of the second year of the legislative biennium as to its activities and recommendations to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the state library, and the governor.

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